Monday 4 April 2016 22:12, UK
Manchester Thunder's top-of-the table clash with Hertfordshire Mavericks was abandoned due to safety concerns about the wet playing surface.
A leak in the roof at the Thunderdome had delayed the start of the Vitality Netball Superleague match and officials called off the round 11 fixture after the first quarter, with leaders Manchester holding a 14-9 advantage against the second-placed Mavericks.
Natalie Haythornthwaite and Ellie Cardwell had combined well in the opening 15 minutes as Manchester moved into a five-goal lead.
But officials held further discussions during the interval and decided to halt the action due to 'interference and safety' and both teams remain tied on 27 points at the top of the table.
Hertfordshire's Layla Guscoth admitted her fellow team-mates were 'gutted' and must now wait for the match to be rescheduled in the busy closing weeks of the campaign.
Guscoth told Sky Sports: "When we arrived there was a spot on the roof, which was leaking throughout the warm-up. The officials were discussing it and the decision was made by both teams for the game to go-ahead.
"After the first quarter, the officials weren't happy with the state of the roof and deemed it to be an interference to the game and there was an official decision that the game was to be called off.
To come all this way and not be able to play is devastating for us.
"Someone was coming on to wipe the court at various intervals and the umpires weren't happy with that and how it effected the game.
"We're absolutely gutted. We were so hyped for this game and train for games like this against the top couple of teams in the league. To come all this way and not be able to play is devastating for us.
"There are a lot of disappointed people on our bus for sure."
The Mavericks must turn their attention to Monday's home fixture against Yorkshire Jets, live on Sky Sports.
Watch the Mavericks against the Jets this Monday night, from 7.30pm on Sky Sports 2.
