Half-time changes make the difference

NETBALL:

MANCHESTER Thunder made it six wins on the bounce in the Zeo Superleague with a clinical 65-35 victory at home to Team Northumbria.

Great shooting from Krista Enziano and Helen Housby and plenty of interceptions from Emma Dovey and Kerry Almond saw Thunder lead 21-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Northumbria came out fighting in the second quarter, but with more interceptions from Dovey and Laura Malcolm, Thunder stormed ahead at 34-14.

Thunder coach Tracey Neville rang the changes at half-time.

With Rachel Henry on at wing attack, and Jodie Gibson at goal keeper, Sara Hale took the defence patch.

However, Thunder piled up the points, increasing their lead by five to 50-25 after three quarters.

The atmosphere in the Thunderdome was terrific throughout the contest.

The crowd were treated to great movement down the court from Henry and Malcolm in the final quarter, while shots from Housby and the newly-introduced Alice Travis at goal shooter continued to go in.