Thunder blow away Storm

Photo: PICTURE: MIKE GREENWOOD

on the look-out: Janelle Lawson tries to pick out a Northern Thunder team-mate in the top-of-the-table clash with Surrey Storm.

NETBALL:

NORTHERN Thunder produced another five-star performance as they swept aside Surrey Storm with a superb 67-48 win.

In the showdown of two unbeaten sides in the FIAT Netball Superleague 2012 campaign, Thunder blitzed their rivals in the opening quarter and held a 19-8 lead.

Even at that early stage, the match was as good as over.

Thunder’s Janelle Lawson was first to find the net and a quick hat-trick saw her side into a 3-0 advantage.

Emma Dovey was next to show her class. A simple intercept set Thunder racing up the court in a pulsating move which ended with a neat one-two between Sarah Bayman and Lawson for another score.

The attacking movement between Lawson and Karen Greig was a joy to watch, while Bayman delighted the crowd with sumptuous feeds into the circle.

Thunder’s mid-court started to control the game and with Laura Malcolm in her stride, the defence looked solid as well.

With the lead at 11, Thunder coach Tracey Neville altered her shooting circle as Krista Enziano came on for Greig.

It didn’t take long for the replacement to have an impact as she linked well with Lawson to score, and the Aussie rapidly made it two without reply.

Storm were better in this quarter but, although they did have some late success, they still trailed 34-19 at the interval.

Neville brought on Rachel Henry at WA to replace a hard-working Beth Cobden, and the pattern of the previous quarter continued.

Greig was particularly impressive, scoring with several long-range attempts, while Storm lacked the incisiveness of their opponents’ play.

With a huge 20-points difference (53-33) heading into the final quarter, the passing and movement from both sides became lapse, which resulted in a number of tips and interceptions.

The visitors ended the game on a high as they won the final period, albeit by the solitary goal.

The victory secured Thunder’s place in the top four, for the second phase of the season.