Let’s hear it for the girls!

UP AND AT’EM . . . Northern Thunder’s Kerry Almond has built a strong defensive partnership with Emma Dovey.

NETBALL:

Monday showdown for Thunder

NORTHERN Thunder are in red-hot form for Monday night’s showdown with Team Bath (8pm).

All eyes will be on Oldham Sports Centre as the venue plays host to Fiat Superleague netball for the first time.

And Thunder are the riding the crest of a wave after defeating Loughborough Lightning in a 48-49 thriller to go top of the table.

OIdham is a netball hotbed, and Thunder are expecting a bumper crowd.

Thunder director Debbie Hallas said: “It is great that we are able to bring Superleague to the town, the hotbed of netball in our region.

“Home support is really important and we are hoping for a big, noisy crowd to roar us on.

“We have suffered some bad luck with injuries recently, but we are confident with our strength in depth that we can go all the way.

“The staff at Oldham Sports Centre have been fantastic in supporting our bid to host a game in the town and hopefully it will be great night of netball.”

As a warm-up to the main event, the Thunder National Talent League Academy will play the Lancashire County under-16s (6pm), while the final of the OCL League junior tournament gets under way at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, Thunder were pushed all the way by Lightning.

Both teams were without key personnel, because of international call-ups and injuries.

Lightning had just nine players available, while Thunder picked National Talent League star Maria McAndrew for their squad.

A confident start in the first quarter from Olivia Murphy’s “make-do” seven took them into a six-goal lead, forcing the visitors into a rethink.

Thunder found more leverage in the second 15 minutes and narrowed the gap to one goal.

However, they still found the impressive Murphy a challenge and, to counter her impact, assistant coach Suzy Chapman unleashed Emma Dovey to roam all three thirds of the court.

Centre used to be Dovey’s position of choice, but over the last three seasons she has flourished in the goal defence role, building a strong defensive partnership with Kerry Almond.

The final quarter was exciting. Thunder appeared to be in control as they moved 46-39 ahead, but Lightning refused to give in and were within one goal at the final whistle.