Cookey returns to playing Netball at Super Cup in Birmingham

16th May 2003

Super Cup 2003 will be moving to Birmingham this weekend for what promises to be an action packed weekend of Netball. With 6 games on offer, 3 each day, the competition will be fierce from all teams as they try and take maximum points in a bid to head up the League table ahead of the final group matches in Bath the following weekend.

The two teams from London will be hoping to stay locked in battle at the top of the table having taken two wins from two games in the opening weekend. Not scheduled to meet each other until Bath the Hurricanes and the Tornadoes will not want to give an inch to each other in the lead up to this. Tornadoes face Blaze on Saturday and Northern Flames in their match on Sunday. Amanda Newton who has returned to the Tornadoes this year said "Both games will be good this weekend, definitely plenty of action in both circles. I just want every player in the competition to play well so that it makes the competition exciting and close." On facing the Flames Newton said, "Playing against Northern Flames gives me the opportunity to play against my old team mate Lisa Stanley, she played well last weekend, it will be a good contest."

The big game on Saturday has to be the tussle that will take place between Petchey London Tornadoes and the Blaze who will be on home ground. In the final in 2001, Tornadoes beat Blaze by the smallest margin possible, one goal to take the title. For the team from Birmingham, the Blaze, Tornadoes have to be regarded as a bogey team, being the only side whom they have yet to record a win against. Blaze will be hoping that with the crowd behind them they can reverse their fortunes. Coach Colette Thomson said "It's make or break, we need to win both games. We have to be consistent in our play, we have worked on this in training this week and I hope to see this on the court over the weekend."

Other teams hoping for an improvement in their results include Team Bath Force and Northern Flames, neither of whom have won a game yet in this season's campaign. Both have come close with the Flames only losing by 3 goals to the Hurricanes and Team Bath Force going down by 4 goals against the Blaze. Coach of Northern Flames Denise Egan said "This weekend will be difficult as we face the toughest opposition in Tornadoes. Our main priority will be to ensure a reduction in errors made within the mid-court and capitalise on our interceptions. Our game against Team Bath Force will undoubtedly be a close competition but with Naomi Siddall and Beccy Douglass improving all the time in the defensive circle we hope to put pressure on the Force. We are looking to consolidate on our performances last weekend and set the flames alight in Birmingham!"

In a year which has seen Pamela reach the heights of a place in the England team to represent her country in the only to have to withdraw hours before the competition started with a knee in jury the youngster from Team Bath is delighted to be back playing competitive Netball once more. Speaking on her inclusion in the side for this weekend's game in Birmingham she said, "It's just great that I can get back onto the court again, I've been training hard. Obviously since having the injury I have done a lot of shooting practise as this was the one part of my training I could resume straight away after the operation to my knee. Although this will be my first competitive game since last year I have been in training with Team Bath since January. Playing against team-mates like Kathryn and Geva means I am prepared for the defences I will face at the weekend. I am just so excited, I can't wait."

Northern Thunder have been forced to make changes to their side with Cathy Oldfield unavailable due to injury. Mike Greenwood, coach of the side from the North West said "I am optimistic about this weekends games. We had a good training session the other night and ironed out some problems areas. We know our options, our strenghts and our weaknesses. We have bought new players into the side and they have done well."

For more information on the Super Cup why not visit the Team websites by clicking on their logo at the top of this page?