No slip-ups from treble winners

NETBALL:

MANCHESTER Thunder’s National Talent League squad reached the end of their season with a double header weekend of league fixtures on Saturday and a new England Netball knock-out tournament on Sunday at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

With a 100 per cent record going into the final two league fixtures Thunder knew there was a great chance of retaining the title, but with Yorkshire Jets just one defeat behind, Thunder couldn’t afford to slip up - and didn’t.

Thunder beat Team South 51-23 and Mavericks 61-37.

In Sheffield on Sunday, after getting past challenges from Celtic Dragons, West Midlands Warriors, Surrey Storm and Mavericks, Thunder won the England Netball knock-out final 25-10 against Loughborough Lightning.

In the final the team displayed a near-perfect performance.

Slick passages of play to goal, accurate shooting and good turnovers rounded off a successful season.

With a 100 per cent record, a pre-season tournament, league title and knockout treble, the Manchester Thunder NTL Squad have most certainly delivered this season.