Manchester Thunder defeat Team Bath to reach Grand Final

Entering the semi-finals with a perfect record, Thunder knew the slate was clean and past successes meant nothing but with the Thunderdome bouncing with over 2,000 fans, there was plenty of support behind them.  

The starting seven was the same side that took on and won against Loughborough Lightning with Shadine van der Merwe out through injury and Pathway star Emelia Roscoe stepping up to the plate. 

The intense atmosphere and heightened pressure saw the game starting equal, despite Thunder having first centre pass and goal from Eleanor Cardwell, voted Fans and Players’ Player of the Season.

The ball saw both ends of the court with each goal mostly getting answered at the other end. Some strong turnovers showed that northern graft and grit from Manchester Thunder, stepping up to the occasion and making the score equal with five minutes left of the first quarter.  

It looked like Bath had a level head on going into quarter two, with 10 from 10 in the first five minutes but things started to get a little scrappy down at Bath’s defensive end and Thunder managed to take advantage of the rocking and get in the lead for the first time with 10 minutes left.

A relentless Bath continued the fight and held Thunder to an incredibly tight score for most of the second quarter and it wasn’t until four minutes before the end that Thunder increase their lead by two goals.

This seems to be when Bath got rattled. Bath’s goal keeper Phumza Maweni totted up 15 penalties in the first half, with Thunder’s keeper Kerry Almond on just 6. As a result, three goals became four goals to then five, to leave the half-time score 34 - 29 to Thunder.  

Entering quarter three, the lack of discipline from Bath attack saw Thunder score 16 goals to Bath’s 1 in the first 5 minutes. However, a 10-goal difference can be easily shrunk when Team Bath have Player of the Season Layla Guscoth helping Bath chip away at the gap.

Eleanor Cardwell held Bath’s Captain Imogen Allison back, using her body as a block which got in her head with her distraction techniques which gave Thunder the opportunity to turnover ball. Thunder held their stance and increased their lead to eight goals, going into the final quarter with a score of 48 – 40. 

Thunder were still having to work hard on every ball but their persistence and feeds eventually found the shooter.

Thunder manage to increase their lead again to 10 and after a few roller coaster dips, and last ditch attempts of team changes from Bath, by the time the final whistle went, and the crowds roared louder, it was 10 goals that Manchester Thunder won by to grasp their spot in the all-important Grand Final.  

Following the game, whilst bathing in winning glory, it was confirmed Thunder would be taking on defending champions Loughborough Lightning at the Copperbox Arena in London, following their win against London Pulse. 

Report provided by Manchester Thunder