Storm outclass Lightning to secure home advantage in playoffs
The win means Storm finish the season top of the league on 28 points. 2nd placed Team Bath have one more fixture left to play, a win would see them finish on the same points as Storm but Surrey have a far more superior goal average than Bath’s and it would take a miracle for Bath to close that gap.
Storm forged a lead after some great through court defence and several zones, which led to plenty of Lightning errors and pick ups for the Storm defence. Former Lightning players Hannah Reid and Natasha Hampshire started brightly, Hampshire was always available feeding plenty of accurate passes in to Greenway and Dunn and Reid’s partnership alongside Janet Coulburne continues to go from strength to strength with the defender giving England shooter Jo Harten plenty to think about in the opening period.
Period two saw England shooter Rachel Dunn taking some superb first time balls and Storm taking control of the match. Storm’s attacking combination of Nash, Hampshire, Greenway and Dunn showed great understanding today and Storm had accrued a 10 goal lead by half time. Equally Storm’s defence looked solid throughout always turning over ball and forcing errors.
The second half was relatively comfortable for Storm, Lightning lacked drive and intensity in attack and looked off the pace tonight, where as the league leaders looked sharp and fit until the very last whistle keeping up a phenomenal work rate. England shooter Rachel Dunn also took her season tally of goals to a massive 708.
It was a match where all of the Storm players excelled including substitutions Chrissy Fitzgerald and Gemma Wiseman who slotted in easily in to the proceedings. It was difficult to pick out a player who shone as every player really played their part tonight, thoughts that were echoed by acting Coach Mel Mansfield; “It was the best team performance we have had this season and just at the right time with playoffs around the corner. We used our bench effectively and were able to rest some players and every quarter we were stronger than the previous which was really pleasing. Our fitness and work rate was awesome tonight. People are commenting on this and our physique and I must say that Simon Elkinson, our strength and conditioning coach has done an amazing job with our squad this season. Overall we are so pleased and proud of the squad and it was an enjoyable game to watch as coaches, at times it was exhibition netball”.
Captain Tamsin Greenway who displayed a classy and inspirational performance tonight added; “It was a tremendous team effort tonight and we gelled really well across all areas of the court. I am so proud of the girls for what we have achieved in our first season as Surrey Storm we have exceeded our expectations. Now, we have a job to do and we want to go on to the finals and win”.
