Last-gasp agony for Thunder

NETBALL:

ANOTHER agonising defeat, 46-45 at home to Hertfordshire Mavericks, has left Thunder with it all to do to qualify in the top four for the second phase of the Fiat Superleague campaign.

The hosts, wearing their pink kit to raise awareness of breast cancer, made a decent start to lead 5-1.

And despite Mavericks build-up good momentum as the opening quarter went on, thanks to the efforts of Sophie Hankin, Thunder edged it 13-10.

The second quarter was just as tough, and exciting, with both sides registering goals in quick succession.

Although Thunder held a narrow lead at half-time (24-23), the match was soon all-square with a minute of the restart.

An injury time-out saw Thunder coach Tracey Neville reshuffle her pack, only for Mavericks to surge four goals clear.

Spurred on by a vociferous crowd, Thunder responded and goals came thick and fast.

Trailing 37-35 with a quarter to go, it was all to play for.

In an explosive passage of play, the lead changed hands on several occasions.

Great turnover ball from Sam Holt and Emma Dovey saw Thunder crank up the pressure, and the roof nearly came off the Thunderdome when Kathryn Turner levelled things up with a minute to go.

However, Mavericks clinched a last-second goal to take the game by one point.

Neville said: “The game was ours to win and again our shooting and passing errors at crucial times let us down.

“There were some good performances on court from individual players, but this has to be mirrored by all seven on court if we want success against opposition such as this.”