Manchester Thunder move back to the top of Superleague with win over Team Northumbria

Manchester Thunder regained top spot in the Vitality Netball Superleague with a 65-51 win over Team Northumbria.

Thunder coach Dan Ryan handed a debut to 18-year-old shooter Amy Clinton as Manchester closed out a comfortable win, moving above the second-placed Hertfordshire Mavericks with a superior goal difference.

Ellie Cardwell displayed her composed shooting to fire Manchester into an early lead, but Team Northumbria produced a spirited response in the third quarter.

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Jamaican imports Shanice Beckford and Nicole Dixon inspired a fightback from Northumbria, who began to test Manchester's youthful line-up.

But England duo Sara Bayman and Laura Malcolm produced assured performances in front of the defence and teenager Clinton made a winning start to her Manchester career.

Elsewhere, Surrey Storm claimed a 54-42 win over Team Bath, while Loughborough Lightning sealed a 52-39 win over the struggling Yorkshire Jets.