Thunder weather Lightning strikes

SARA BAYMAN . . . effective for Thunder.

NETBALL: MANCHESTER Thunder continued their unbeaten start to the Superleague season with a hard-fought 56-47 victory over Loughborough Lightning.

It was a game in which both defences excelled, with Thunder’s Jamaican import Malysha Kelly and Lightning’s England defender Ama Agbeze restricting two world-class attacks.

It was a close first half, with two experienced centre-courters in Sara Bayman and Lightning’s captain Jade Clarke battling it out, making it an intense and unpredictable contest.

Thunder forced the momentum at the end of the second quarter and went into the break 26-19 up.

Lightning started the second half positively, knowing Thunder’s advantage was far from
unassailable. They closed the gap to four as Thunder began to lose composure - but Liana Leota showed her experience to slow play down.

Helen Housby was being forced into long-shots as Lightning’s defensive pressure continued. The hosts kept probing but ultimately Thunder’s defence matched theirs and the Black and Yellows were able to rely on their shooters’ range in the circle to see out the win.