Surrey Storm Netball recorded their biggest win of the season on Monday night as they trounced bottom of the table Team Northumbria 20-86 in Newcastle.
The longest away trip of the season didn’t stop Storm from asserting their dominance right from the first centre pass, as they added more season records to their collection thanks to the 66 goal victory.
With a home semi-final to look forward to just a few days later, Coach Greenway opted to keep her familiar starting 7 for the last regular game of the season, and this decision paid off from the opening centre pass. Within a few minutes the visitors found themselves 1-10 up with Northumbria creating just a single chance on goal. By the end of the opening quarter Storm lead 4-22 as the difference in quality between the sides shone through.
Northumbria made a trio of changes to start Q2 in an attempt to put a stop of Storm’s scoring, but two immediate turnovers set them well on their way towards 30 goals. Rachel Dunn and Pamela Cookey continue to put away goal after goal, with the rest of the squad working hard to create a string of chances. Northumbria picked up a handful of defensive turnovers late in the quarter, but failed to capitalise at the opposite end at it was Surrey who held an 11-47 lead at half time.
Storm once again opened the quarter with a turnover from the first Northumbria centre-pass, but the pace slowed as Katie Harris and Georgia Lees took a few minutes to settle into the speed of the Surrey attack. The hosts found themselves scoring just 3 goals in Q3 to the 20 put away by the visitors, leaving the score line at 14-67.
Ensuring that the full squad was once again used, Kat Hayes, Amy Flanagan and Josie Huckle all received game time during the evening to hand Storm the fresh legs advantage at various points of the match. The goals continued to flow even during the closing quarter as a sorry looking Team Northumbria side looked star struck against the semi-finalists, who completed an emphatic 20-86 win.
This result is not only a season record for Storm, but also the most goals scored in a, the fewest conceded in a match and the biggest winning margin this season. Storm will be grateful for a confidence boosting performance to end the regular season as they now look forward to welcoming Yorkshire Jets to Surrey Sports Park this Saturday for the Netball Superleague semi-finals!
Listen to Tamsin Greenway's post-match reaction courtesy of Andy Lamb.
Northumbria starting 7:
GS- Kambatuku
GA- Smith
WA- Burgess
C- Grant
WD- Woodings
GD- Styles
GK- Kennedy
Subs: Bowman, Hampshire, Small, Johnsen
Changes: Johnsen to WD, Woodings to GD (both Q1), Bowman to GS, Hampshire to C, Kamratuku to GA, Styles to GD, Woodings to WD (all Q2), Johnsen to WD, Small to WA, Smith to GA (all to Q3), Hampshire to WA, Small to C, Woodings to GD (all Q4)
Storm starting 7:
GS- Dunn
GA- Cookey
WA- Greenway
C- Msomi
WD- Ainsworth
GD- Holland
GK- Reid
Subs- Huckle, Flanagan, Hayes, Lees, Harris
Changes: Cookey to GS. Flanagan to WD, Hayes to GA, Huckle to GK, Lees to WA, Reid to GD (all Q3), Ainsworth to C, Dunn to GS, Harris to GA, Holland to GD (all Q4)
Shooting stats
Northumbria: Kambatuku 4/7, 57%; Smith 1/1, 100%; Bowman 15/17, 88%. Team: 20/25, 80%.
Storm: Dunn 34/45, 76%; Cookey 30/33, 91%; Hayes 11/13, 85%; Harris 11/12, 92%. Team: 86/103, 83%.
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