Manchester Thunder vs London Pulse
Sunday 21st February 2021
Following the win from the first game of the season against Strathclyde Sirens, the Thunder team started as they meant to go on and went out all guns blazing.
Karen’s strong words after our slow start last week certainly rang in the players ears, starting Q1 at one point 8-0 up – we began thinking we were going to get a clean sheet!
Pulse seems to be lacking the connections between players, struggling to find space and Thunder took full advantage and continued their dominant open quarter, finishing on 18 – 7 so a significant gap created already.
The second quarter brought the same level of power and finesse from the Thunder players, working the ball down the court with relative ease. Their ruthless nature saw the goals continue to pour in. Cardwell and Mvula barely missing a shot, taking up every opportunity to score but also the defence hardly letting London Pulse near the goal. The half time score saw Thunder strolling in front at 33 – 13.
Changes made on both sides with youngster Pearson coming on as GA and O’Hanlon as WA which is a small change from her preferred C position, but she continued to show her skill making some great interceptions. The danger decreased with each goal the northerners score, but Thunder do not do laidback and the whole squad continue to put the pressure on Pulse, which was represented in the third quarter score of 44-21, a 24-goal difference.
Continued muscle was shown in the final quarter to hold onto the lead for the win. It is very clear seeing the training apply to court with the players complimenting each other’s moves, creating those crucial spaces, and making it so difficult with our defence that London Pulse just were not given the chance to score. Sneaking in one last goal on the last second to rub salt in the wound, Thunder terminates the game 57 – 30.
Captain Emma Dovey noted how “we only got into second gear last week so tonight we stepped that up but there’s definitely more to come from us over the rest of the season.”
After the final whistle, Head Coach Karen Greig said “The quick start eluded us last week and it is something we looked at in training this week in terms of our purpose and intensity from that first whistle, [and] I think we really showed that tonight. Really proud of what the girls put out; it was great to see that transition of what we’ve actually done in training go into the game.”
Match Stats
Match Photos
Player Stats
Player | Goals | Missed Shots | Penalties | Rebounds (O) | Rebound (D) | Intercepts | Deflections | Turnovers | Unforced Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rebekah Airey | – | – | 4 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 3 | – |
Emma Dovey | – | – | 5 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 |
Amy Carter | – | – | 5 | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 |
Caroline O’Hanlon | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Laura Malcolm | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Eleanor Cardwell | 21 | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Joyce Mvula | 31 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
Lois Pearson | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Ella Standring | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Berri Neil | 4 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Elia McCormick | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Kerry Almond | – | – | 6 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – |
Total | 57 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 7 |