Thunder lose title in thriller

NETBALL:

MANCHESTER Thunder lost their crown in a thrilling Fast Net Grand Prix final.

The young side was beaten 26-21 by Team Bath in front a capacity 1,000 crowd at Wright Robinson College, Gorton.

The high-octane version of the game has several rule changes, including shorter, six-minute quarters and double points for scoring from outside the shooting area. Teams can also nominate a quarter in which all goals score double.

Thunder went into the final session of the two-day competition at their home arena ranked second to Team Bath on goal difference after eight Superleague teams had played in round robin format.

The local side - reigning Superleague champions - beat third-placed Hertfordshire Mavericks in their semi-final before returning immediately for the final.

Cheerleaders, music, a noisy crowd and the TV cameras created a great atmosphere and Thunder started well, winning the first quarter 6-4. But mistakes and missed shots saw them lose the next three, including the crucial second quarter when both sides used their double-scoring “power play”.

Tracey Neville, director of Netball at Thunder, said: “It was a really exciting final. We knew it was going to be difficult having two games back to back and the side’s inexperience. As a coach I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

The final will be shown on Sky Sports on Thursday.