Thunder strike late blow

KAREN GREIG lines up a shot against Leeds. Picture by ANDREW SCHOFIELD. Sport by Karen Doherty

NORTHERN Thunder netted their second win of the season in a thrilling 51-49 War of the Roses netball clash against Leeds Carnegie.

Extra seats were brought in for the 500-strong, sell-out crowd at Bury’s Castle Leisure Centre which included Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha.

And six Oldham girls featured in the Pennine derby which will be shown on Sky Sports tonight: captain Karen Greig, vice-captain Kerry Almond, Charlotte Beenham, Rachel Bramhall, Helen Browne and Emma Dovey.

Carnegie went into the match four points ahead in the Co-operative Superleague and, after a scrappy start from both sides, it was the home team which gained a five-point advantage thanks in part to some great interceptions.

But Thunder were pegged back to 15-14 by the end of the first quarter and the volume reached fever pitch as they established a 31-26 lead at the end of the second.

The third finished 43-40 and fans were on the edge of their seats in a tense final quarter which was level with just minutes to go. Errors were traded and Thunder missed some vital shots before Greig held her nerve to score two crucial points in the dying seconds.

She was named player of the match and the team will be hoping to continue their winning run against bottom-of-the-table Glasgow Wildcats in Scotland on Saturday, the first of four away matches on the trot.

The next home match is against league leaders Team Bath on January 31.