Storm rumbled by Thunder to suffer first defeat
It was a difficult night from the start for Storm, who lost player-coach Tamsin Greenway to the bench before the game had even started due to a hamstring injury.
Storm started the game with a starting seven of Dunn (GS), Cookey (GA), Modeste (WA), Trippick (C), Seaton (WD), Holland (GD), Reid (GK).
The host dominated the mid-court early on to take a 19-8 first quarter lead, with Bayman shining and Greenway's absence having an immediate impact.
Thunder continued to ease ahead despite some Storm fightbacks, with the half-time score 34-19.
Despite a stronger third quarter from Storm, a late surge from the Northern side saw Thunder take their third quarter in a row to make the score 53-33 with the final 15 minutes to play.
Storm made changes for the last quarter, with Stef Bello on at WD, captain Trippick back on at C, Kat Ainsworth to WA and Pam Cookey trading positions with Rachel Dunn.
A more positive final 15 saw Storm take their first and last quarter, but the hosts took the win 67-48 and kept their unbeaten record to stay top of the Fiat Netball Superleague ahead of Surrey Storm in second.
It was a night to forget for Storm, who suffered their first defeat of the season. Greenway and her girls will take heart that the defeat comes early in the season, and there is plenty of time to build and improve for the latter phase 2 and playoff stages of the FNSL where the victories really count.
Talking after the game on twitter, Storm's Pamela Cookey said, " Of course we hate lsoing, but this season is far from over. If it doesn't hurt after a loss then we didn't want to win. We'll learn from the defeat and come back much stronger for it."
Match Quarter Scores:
Q1: Thunder 19-8 Storm
Q2: Thunder 34-19 Storm
Q3: Thunder 53-33 Storm
Q4: Thunder 67-48 Storm and final score.
