Match Report - Team Thunder 20.01.2019

Team Thunder travelled to Street in Somerset, to take on the physical side of Tor Knights.  Having previously lost to them before Christmas (at home) by 9 goals, we knew we were in for a rough ride from the off set. Tor Knights started their challenge hard, and their defence duo certainly applied plenty of pressure in our shooting circle.  This certainly affected our shooting pair of Lorraine Cleverdon Brend and Daisy Harrison, as they were constantly being obstructed or tapping the ball before the shot. Long range shots were having to be put up to goal, and we only managed to convert 7 out of 17 attempts in this first quarter. We came off trailing 11-7. We kept the same line up for the 2nd quarter.  Paula Young and Daisy Totterdell continued to work well as a unit, to shut down the tidy play of Tor Knights shooters. Rowan Fitzsimmons, Nicole Lathwell & Lorraine Beel patiently guided a safe ball down to our shooters, but we still found it a challenge to sink the goals, with only 8 out of 17 attempts.  At half time we were now 21-15 down.  Daisy Harrison made way for Louise Lathwell to take to the court for the third quarter. With 6 goals down, we were keeping goal for goal for the third period, but just couldn't claw the goals back. 5 minutes in to the quarter, Lorraine Beel made way for Daisy Harrison to return to the court at WA. At this point we were trailing by 7 goals, but with renewed confidence, Team Thunder played safe netball down the court, and Captain Lorraine Cleverdon Brend, suddenly started to find her shooting form, and was sinking long range shots. The momentum of the game was switching in Thunder's favour, and we started our fight back campaign. We didn't want the quarter to end, as the score line now was 27 goals a piece. We had certainly rattled the play of Tor Knights. Coming on for the last quarter, we had great believe that this game was for our taking. We started well, and managed to gain a lead for the first time in the game. Everyone played their part to ensue we worked as a solid unit, and Lorraine now was shooting with ease, with 8 out of 9 attempts. The pressure was mounting for all the defensive players, and lots of obstruction/contact calls were penalised. Everyone was certainly getting frustrated with no caution calls, and wondering how long could players continue to infringe. With 5 minutes on the clock we managed to be up by 5 goals. Surely now, this was our game, but, in a blink of an eye, two unforced errors were made feeding the ball into our shooting circle, and with that Tor knights were able to close the gap and get level. Rowan was working with determination, in which richly gave her the Player of the Match from both the opposition and Thunder, and produced 3 vital interceptions, just at the right time. With 1 and half minutes on the clock, we tried to play a possession game, in which saw the umpire penalise us for 3 seconds call in the centre third. This fired up Rowan for a superb interception, in which brought the ball down into our circle, and with a missed shot from Lathwell, Lorraine had the mounting pressure to sink the winning goal from under the post. Surely now the game was ours, with only 10 seconds left on the clock, and Tor Knights centre pass. They certainly would need to get the ball quick to their circle, as as the ball hit the edge of the circle, the time keeper strolled down the side line to try and advise the umpire.  All of Titans players were screaming 'time', but the controlling umpire was unaware that it was the end of the game. The shooter managed to put up a shot from under the post, and with the mounting pressure, the ball went wayward, and came back out to the other shooter. By this point, the noise was deafening, and the final important whistle did finish the game. A jubilant win by the Thunder Team, proving that they can come back from 7 goals trailing, and capitalised on a great victory, winning by a single goal 39-38.

Team Line up:  Paula Young, Daisy Totterdell, Rowan Fitzsimmons, Nicole Lathwell, Lorraine Beel, Daisy Harrison, Lorraine Cleverdon Brend & Louise Lathwell.