Surrey Storm v Northern Thunder Preview

Date, time and coverage

Monday 20 February 2012, 8.00pm at The Thunderdome, Manchester. Live text updates on twitter via @surreystorm

Form Guide

Tonight sees the two form teams in the Superleague go head-to-head as both Storm and Northern Thunder put their league unbeaten records on the line.

Storm currently sit second in the table level on points with Thunder but behind on goal difference, after notching their fourth consecutive win at home to Yorkshire Jets last time-out, winning 57-39.

Thunder lead the league with a +11 goal difference over Surrey Storm, and themselves recorded their fourth straight win in the last round of Superleague action with a convincing 61-39 home win over Celtic Dragons.

Head to Head

Over the past two seasons Storm have enjoyed a mix record over Northern Thunder, with two wins and three losses.

In Storm’s first season, Storm ran out victorious away 37-50 before losing the second game away 59-48.

In 2011, Storm came unstuck in both league matches against Thunder losing 60-38 away before going down 49-50 in a tight affair at Surrey Sports Park.

However, Storm got revenge in the Grand Final Play-offs, pulling off a shock 48-64 away victory after knocking out Team Bath, on their way to the 2011 Superleague Grand Final.

With the teams much changed this term, the pre-season Cathedral City Lighter Fast Net Grand Prix Finals gave both teams the opportunity to size each other up, after Storm qualified as winners from the Surrey Conference and Thunder champions of the Manchester Conference. Both teams locked horns in the first match of the finals, with Thunder taking the spoils on the day 21-27 on their way to winning the tournament.

Our friends at PlanetNetball.com have put together a great head-to-head player analysis for both teams here, so be sure to check it out.

Ins and Outs

Storm name an unchanged squad for the second consecutive game, although player-coach Tamsin Greenway faces a late fitness test with a hamstring problem.

Surrey Storm Squad to face Northern Thunder:

Rachel Dunn
Pamela Cookey
Rhianne McHale
Tamsin Greenway
Becky Trippick
Kat Ainsworth
Stef Bello
Natalie Seaton
Adele Modeste
Lorraine Betsy
Katy Holland
Hannah Reid

New Thunder coach Tracey Neville will be looking to continue their good form this season, with Karen Greig a big boost after coming back from injury earlier in the season.

Storm goal-attack Pamela Cookey is expecting a tough game, but thinks Storm will have enough to get the win, She said, “It’s going to be a tough game, there’s no doubt about that, but we know if we go and play how we know we can play and put together four quarters of good netball we should come out on top!”