2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final
The 2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final was an Netball match between the Manchester Thunder and the Surrey Storm. The match, the 11th annual Grand Final since the match's inception in 2006, determined the 2016 Netball Superleague champions. Surrey defeated Manchester by 2 points, 55-53, to claim the club's second successive title.[1][2][3][4]
The match was played at London's Copper Box Arena, on Saturday 7 May 2016, with the game's centre pass at 5:00 pm. Despite winning the Grand Final the previous year, Surrey Storm started the game as underdogs, having finishing second and nine points behind their opponents. However, the Surrey Storm were the only team to defeat the Manchester Thunder during the regular season and got off to a quick start and led by 15 goals to 9 at the end of the first quarter. Rachel Dunn sunk a long shot on the buzzer to make the score 32–19 at half-time. The third period finished with the Storm still in the lead, 43-36, to set up a tense and exciting final fifteen minutes which saw Manchester battle back but ultimately fall just short and Surrey picked up a 55–53 victory, and in doing so, were able to claim the Netball Superleague title for the second year in a row and become the first team to go back-to-back since Team Bath in 2010.
Starting 7's
Manchester Thunder
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GS | Eleanor Cardwell |
| GA | Helen Housby |
| WA | Natalie Haythornwaite |
| C | Sara Bayman |
| WD | Laura Malcolm |
| GD | Jodie Gibson |
| GK | Malysha Kelly |
Surrey Storm
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GS | Rachel Dunn |
| GA | Pamela Cookey |
| WA | Georgia Lees |
| C | Sophia Candappa |
| WD | Amy Flanagan |
| GD | Katy Holland |
| GK | Hannah Reid |
Match summary
| Sat 7 May | Surrey Storm | 55-53 | Manchester Thunder | Copper Box Arena, London | |
| 17:00 | Report |
Broadcasting
Television
The match was televised by Sky Sports. The presenter was Anna Woolhouse who was joined by Karen Atkinson and Stacey Francis. The commentators were Anita Navin, Caroline Barker and Julie Corletto.
References
- ↑ "Storm retain VNSL title!". Netball Superleague. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "Surrey Storm seal second Vitality Superleague title in 12 months". Get Surrey. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to win Netball Superleague". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "Netball Superleague 2016: Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder to retain title". BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
External links
- Netball Superleague official website
- Surrey Storm official website
- Manchester Thunder official website