Thunder edge out gutsy Mavericks

THUNDER'S Kathryn Turner (centre) looks to take the sting out of a Wasps player

MANCHESTER Thunder were forced to work hard for their fifth win on the bounce by a determined Hertfordshire Mavericks side.

It was the visitors that shaded an even and scrappy first half, as Thunder seemed to still be in dream land over their previous victory against Wasps 10 days earlier.

But the Black and Yellows started to turn on the charm in the second half and a fluid and classy final quarter stamped out any resistance left in a spirited Mavericks squad for a 59-50 victory.

Coach Karen Greig was pleased to keep up their winning run.

"We made it hard for ourselves in that first half, we've not played since last Friday and we were slow out of the blocks and it showed.

"But once we started sticking to task and believing in each other, it really started to come together," she said.

"You can see how the game opened up in the third quarter and we played with a lot more confidence and we were letting the ball do the work.

"We pushed on in the last quarter and we all had a great game in the end."

Thunder starting seven: GK Almond, GD Dovey, WD Skingsley, C Marshall, WA Leota, GA Turner, GS Mvula