Thunder fans revel in top-flight action

Oldham Sports Northern Thunder V Team Bath netball - in action Kathryn Turner

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Netball: FANS turned up with Thunder in their hearts to watch top-flight netball in Oldham last night.

A vociferous crowd of more than 550 filled Oldham Sports Centre for Northern Thunder’s Fiat Superleague clash against Team Bath.

Despite the result — Bath triumphed 56-42 after winning each of the four quarters — a return to the venue is very much on the cards.

The match was moved to Oldham because of work to fix a leaking roof at Thunder’s usual home at Castle Leisure Centre, Bury.

Thunder director and assistant coach Debbie Hallas said: “It was a success and it would be great if we could come back for another one-off game next season.

“The seating area holds 520 and that was virtually full and there were other people watching from the balcony.”

Emma Dovey, Thunder’s player-of-the-match, was unsure whether Thunder’s army of supporters would follow their side to Oldham — but she not have worried.

Rocking to the drum beat of Peter Grant — the instrument broke in the end after he hit it that hard — supporterscheered every Thunder point even though, by the last quarter, they knew their heroes were chasing a lost cause.

Dovey, a former Oldham junior player said: “Many of our fans came along and there were lots of new faces as well.

“Along with the cheerleaders, it made for a great experience. It’s just a pity about the final result.”