Surrey Storm took 1 win and 1 loss from their Easter weekend Vitality Netball Superleague fixtures as they continue their quest for a top 4 spot.
Defeat at a Manchester Thunder side who are growing in strength on Saturday was overturned by a thrilling win over Team Northumbria on Monday afternoon, ending their 3 game losing streak.
Storm U21s also had mixed fortunes across the weekend, taking a 67-44 loss at Thunder before crushing Northumbria 70-35.
Manchester Thunder 66-58 Surrey Storm
Thunder’s early Q1 lead was enough to create a strong cushion for the hosts to work from throughout the whole tie and take the win, despite Storm continually pegging back.
A full report will follow shortly.
Storm starting 7:
GS – Craig
GA – Harris
WA – Lees
C – Austin
WD – Williams
GD – Hutchinson
GK – Holland
Thunder starting 7:
GS – Mvula
GA – Turner
WA – Leota
C – Marshall
WD – Skingsley
GD – Dovey
GK – Almond
Surrey Storm 65-56 Team Northumbria
A gritty tie saw Storm close out against Northumbria at the Sports Park thanks to a determined performance across the court.
Hoffman made 3 changes to her starting 7, with Katy Holland resting due to an injury picked up at Thunder and Harris and Williams taking to the bench, allowing Kowalewska, Dixon and Sutherland to start the match.
Q1 opened goal for goal at both sides bedded into the game well. A contact call against Lees in the attacking third handed the visitors their first chance to lead by 2 but Hutchinson was there to retake the possession for Dixon to score. Storm edged ahead towards the end of the Q to lead 17-13.
Harris switched with Dixon at the start of Q2 and both teams once again started strong. Northumbria were allowed to peg goals back and retake their lead at 28-29. Storm regained their composure at the end of the half though, tieing the game at 30-all on the break.
Dixon and Harris switched again at the start of the 2nd half, but it was the visitors who looked fresher and more up for the battle. Northumbria quickly broke away until a new level of energy was injected in the home side, coinciding with Williams hitting the court at WD. Sutherland, who had moved to GD, immediately pulled out an interception for Dixon to convert. Storm built a 4 goal cushion late in the period, before leading 48-43 at the final break.
It didn’t take the hosts long to increase their lead to 8 in Q4, and from then on it was a case of holding on and closing the game out. Nortumbria didn’t give up on the game, but Storm battled to take a confidence boosting 65-56 win and get them to winning ways ahead of the second half of the season.
Player of the Match: Naida Hutchinson
Storm return to the court in a week’s time to when they travel to Worcester to face the Severn Stars (7.30pm centre-pass).
Storm starting 7:
GS – Craig
GA – Dixon
WA – Lees
C – Austin
WD – Sutherland
GD – Kowalewska
GK – Hutchinson
Changes for Storm: Harris to GA (Q2), Dixon to GA, Sutherland to GD (Q3)
Northumbria starting 7:
GS – Rowe
GA – Semple
WA – Burgess
C – Toner
WD – Thomas
GD – Keenan
GK – Brerton
Changes for Northumbria: Grierson to WA (Q4)
Storm shooting stats:
Craig – 46/55, 84%
Dixon – 15/23, 65%
Harris – 4/6, 67%
Team – 65/84, 77%
Northumbria shooting stats:
Rowe – 29/31, 94%
Semple – 27/33, 82%
Team – 56/64, 88%
Storm stats:
Craig – 12 rebounds
Hutchinson – 5 intercepts, 6 rebounds
Austin – 1 intercept, 1 rebound
Kowalewska, Lees, Parsons, Sutherland – 2 intercepts
Harris – 1 rebound
Team – 12 intercepts, 22 rebounds
Northumbria stats:
Keenan – 3 intercepts
Rowe – 1 intercept, 2 rebounds
Thomas – 2 intercepts, 1 rebound
Toner, Brerton – 2 intercepts
Burgess, Semple – 1 intercept
Team – 12 intercepts, 3 rebounds
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