Tornadoes and Hurricanes at top of League table after first weekend

13th May 2003

The opening weekend of Super Cup 2003 in Gateshead proved to be a great success with some fantastic displays of Netball providing 'to the wire' action for 60 minutes. The players involved in each of the six teams displayed great speed, pace of thought and slight of hand as they each tried to play their way to victory. In this the premier domestic competition the top 72 athletes in the country were on display. For both the teams from London, the Tornadoes and Hurricanes it proved to be a great weekend as they finished at the top of the league table having won both their opening games but it was Tornadoes who sneaked ahead on goal average.

Tornadoes had the most impressive victories beating 2002 champions Northern Thunder 61 - 48 and then putting on a fine display to beat Team Bath Force 56 - 26 on the Sunday. Captain of the Tornadoes Fiona Murtagh said, "We are pleased with our performances this weekend. We have had the chance to field most of our squad over these two games. Now we have matches under our belt we hope to continue with our winning ways."

Indeed shooting attempts and accuracy proved to be the factor separating the teams at the end of the six games. Team Bath Force faced all sorts of shooting problems in their second game and will need improve upon this if they are to move up the league table. England International Geva Mentor who is lining up at GK for Team Bath Force said, "We haven't take the start we wanted to in the competition this year. We have seen some good passages of play throughout both of our games but the negatives have overran the positives. We have put unnecessary pressure on ourselves." Team Bath Force lost to both Blaze 42 - 46 and then slumped to a 30 goal defeat at the hands of Tornadoes 56 - 26.

The defending champions Northern Thunder made a disappointing start to their campaign going down 48 - 61 to the Petchey London Tornadoes but an improved performance on Sunday saw them take the honours in the Northern Derby where they beat Flames 54 - 41. These five points and some high scoring coming mainly from England Internationals Karen Greig and Tracey Neville ensured that having been in 6^th place in the league table on the Saturday evening, the Thunder moved up to 3^rd place, just above Blaze on goal average. Coach Mike Greenwood said "This competition has been a steep learning curve for some of our young players but I am pleased we have won one game."

Flames despite being on home ground could not take victory in either of their games. However they did pick up 2 points from their game against the London Hurricanes which may prove to be crucial at a later stage in the competition. Coach Denise Egan said "We just need a break, we need for luck to fall on our side. Every year of this competition we have lost the services of one of the England athletes allocated to us. It is a great shame that we haven't had Olivia Murphy playing for us, she would have made a big difference and who knows we may have been looking at 10 points rather than the two we have if she had been available to play."

Birmingham University Blaze made a good start to their shot at the title in Gateshead defeating Team Bath Force 46 - 42 but on Sunday despite having an 11 goal lead during the second quarter went down 52 - 46 to the London Hurricanes, a side they had never lost too before. Coach Colette Thomson spoke of her disappointment at their defeat on the Sunday saying, "We just didn't stick to our game plan." Captain of the Blaze and England shooter Alex Astle echoed her coaches disappointment but was quick to add "It's only the opening weekend, there are three more league matches before the finals and who knows will happen in those."