Pitman in as Thunder aim to regain title

Date published: 10 December 2014


 NETBALL

MANCHESTER Thunder have announced their squad for the 2015 season, with England centre courter Sara Bayman once again captaining the reigning Netball Superleague champions.

Overseas signing Chelsea Pitman, who signed a one-year contract with the Black and Yellows in July, is the only new player to join the squad, which contains a number of players from Oldham Netball Club.

Versatile Pitman, who can play at goal attack, centre and wing attack, last played for West Coast Fever in the Trans-Tasman ANZ Championship.

England shooter Helen Housby, who famously scored the last-gasp winner in the Superleague final against Surrey in April, will be joined in attack by Krista Enziano, Alice Travis, Kathryn Turner and Eleanor Cardwell.

Bayman, who played for England in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Beth Cobden and Laura Malcolm complete a strong centre court for Thunder, despite them losing enigmatic Rachel Henry to Loughborough Lightning.

Experienced defender Emma Dovey and talented youngster Georgie Webster, who have both been selected for England ‘A’ for the upcoming international game against Scotland in Liverpool, and Jodie Gibson will line up beside keeper Kerry Almond.

Welsh international Sara Hale, who suffered a serious knee injury playing for Thunder in March, has joined the club’s defensive coaching staff.

Hoping to gain more court time in the senior team in 2015 will be NPL players Gabriella Marshall and Paige Kindred.

Marshall captained the England under-19s this year and the centre-courter — along with Kindred — has been instrumental in securing three NPL Championships with Manchester Thunder.

Thunder get their 2015 campaign under way in a rematch of this year’s final against Surrey Storm on January 26 in Manchester.

Manchester squad for 2015: Helen Housby, Kathryn Turner, Krista Enziano, Alice Travis, Eleanor Cardwell, Gabrielle Marshall, Sara Bayman, Chelsea Pitman, Laura Malcolm, Beth Cobden, Paige Kindred, Kerry Almond, Emma Dovey, Jodie Gibson, George Webster.