NETBALL A crushing win for Northern Thunder over Team Northumbria in the Co-operative Netball Superleague has boosted their goal average ahead of the play-offs.

From the first centre, Thunder rolled superb exhibition of netball.

Emma Lower, who missed just three times all night, enjoyed fine service in the first quarter and with the accurate eye and arm of Vicky Phillips, converted what they were given.

Thunder were already 10 goals ahead by the first break, Karen Greig scoring 15 of the 20 through the net, as Charley Beenham landed all five of her shots. It was a great display of shooting.

There was a superb atmosphere at the Castle Leisure Centre in Bury with plenty of enthusiastic young support egged on by a brilliant display of cheerleading to which both teams responded.

Team Northumbria’s shooting duo nailed 100 per cent in the second quarter and if Thunder’s defence had allowed them more possession they could well have shared the quarter tally – but lost out by two goals.

North carried forward their good work at the start of the second half with another 100 per cent shooting effort but Thunder, after the now famous Clarke-Bayman swap and Greig-Wilson pair-up, started turning up the gas.

In the fourth the home side brought in the result with a spot of showboating.

Player of the match was Thunder’s Rachel Henry, the first time she’s been recognised this season.

She said: “ We used the momentum we have generated through this season so far to push on every quarter. We didn’t let them settle.

Assistant coach Suzy Chapman was happy with the execution of the gameplan: “We focused on consistency over the four quarters and we maintained that. Karen Greig was superb and connected the attack in the combinations we had.

“Centre court again was very strong and through out the court we turned the ball over to give the attack shooting opportunities. Pressure on the pass and the player in defence resulted in us dominating the circle.”