Thunder struck by bolt of bad fortune

Karen Greig

NETBALL
COULD Northern Thunder have had worse luck in the space of one season?

A campaign derailed by a leaky roof and the enforced loss of key players — captain and leading shooter Karen Greig and England star Sara Bayman both suffered serious injuries — came to a close with a 64-48 play-off defeat to Surrey Storm at Oldham Sports Centre. The quest to reach the FIAT Netball Superleague Grand Final was over for another year.

Looking back, things had started very promisingly. A heartbreaking defeat to Mavericks in the play-offs the previous year was soon forgotten when that loss was avenged in the opening clash, Thunder coming out on top 44-39.

That was followed by a convincing 60-38 triumph over Surrey Storm and with England internationals Jade Clarke and Bayman combining well with the younger elements of the squad, the future looked bright.

Thunder sailed through their next few games before squaring up to champions Team Bath on their own patch.

In front of a partisan crowd, in-form Thunder took the spills 52-49 to sail to the top of the division and take on the mantle of favourites for top honours.

Then, the luck changed sharply. In round 11 at Mavericks, Greig landed awkwardly to tear knee ligaments, ruling her out for the rest of the programme.

Influential coach Mike Greenwood was fighting an illness that meant he was in and out of hospital and missed the season’s climax and two rounds later, Bayman injured her anterior cruciate ligament to not only rule her out for Thunder, but also putting paid to her chances of competing in July’s World Championships. She is now on the road to recovery.

With the usual home in Bury resembling a swimming pool due to an issue with the roof, the club decamped to Oldham Sports Centre and almost 600 fans watched Thunder lose a physical clash to Team Bath, only a second reverse of the year.

A top-two finish was guaranteed before the last game against Glasgow Wildcats and all that was needed was to avoid injuries — only for experienced Lynsey Armitage to succumb to a knee problem.

Led by Clarke, Thunder went into play-off one hoping to defeat Mavericks and take a place in the Grand Final. But in the build-up, Charlie Beenham’s attendance at a friend’s wedding left the team with only two 18-year-old shooters to call upon.

Ex-England international Alex Wood came on board as an emergency signing, but Mavericks proved too strong, despite a late Thunder comeback.

Play-off three gave Thunder a second chance to make the final. But Surrey Storm proved too strong at Oldham Sports Centre, leaving the home side looking forward to putting things right next time around.