No quarter given as Thunder lose grip on title

Photo: Mike Greenwood

Kerry Almond of Thunder puts pressure on Team Bath’s Kadeen Corbin.

Northern Thunder head coach Tracey Neville admitted her side just wasn’t good enough after watching her team suffer semi-final play-off agony.

The defending champions were beaten 53-43 by Team Bath, who face Celtic Dragons in the Fiat Superleague final on Saturday.

“There were too many unforced errors,” added Neville.

The gae was billed as the tie of the Superleague so far, with Thunder meeting the four-times champions.

The hosts took an early 6-1 lead as feeders Laura Malcolm and Rachel Henry struggled to find shooters Kathryn Turner and Janelle Lawson.

But Thunder found form and got within two goals to make it 10-8)

The hosts ended the quarter in the ascendancy and went into the first break 14-9 up.

Thunder introduced captain Sara Bayman - a former Bath player - at wing defence, supported by Emma Dovey and Lawson, who helped to level things at 16-16.

Bath regrouped and at the half-way mark wwere leading 25-22.

Though Thunder needed to step up a gear, Bath moved further in front at 33-26.

Thunder did their best to stay in contention, but the score was 39-31 with a quarter remaining.

Neville rang the changes but Bath opened a significant lead thunder couldn’t match.