Manchester Thunder net crucial home win

The Superleague Champions crushed Loughborough Lightning 72-40 at the Thunder dome, Manchester on Saturday evening ahead of their first away league game to Celtic Dragons.

After tough defeats last weekend and Thunder Captain Sara Bayman out with a knee injury both sides hoped to return to winning form but it was Manchester Thunder who raced ahead.

A perfect shot from Goal Shooter, Krista Enziano saw Thunder take the lead but Loughborough were quick to respond as Goal Attack, Vanessa Walker levelled the score.

Swift passing from Thunder’s Goal Attack, Janelle Lawson and Enziano soon saw the champions take a 5-2 lead.

Excellent shooting from Loughborough’s Goal Shooter, Nikita Piggott soon made it 6-4 but misses from Walker and tight Thunder defending saw the visitors trailing.

Enziano’s long range shot from the right side of the circle made it 14-6. Despite both teams making errors the champions were clearly on top, ending the first quarter 21-9.

Thunder’s Georgie Webster made her first debut for the team as Goal Defence in the second quarter as the girls extended their lead to 26-9 thanks to Enziano’s faultless shooting.

Loughborough began to gain some of the possession but poor shooting from Walker in key stages let them down.

An incredible long ball from Wing Attack’s Rachel Henry to Lawson saw the Australian make it 33-12. Despite Piggott scoring twice in a row for Loughborough towards the end of the second quarter her team were well beaten at 38-16.

Thunder’s Director Tracey Neville was able to mix up the team in the 3^rd quarter by replacing Enziano with 16-year-old Alice Travis and switching Kathryn Turner to Wing Attack.

Loughborough hoped to strengthen their defence by placing Jade Forbes- Wattley in at Goal Keeper. The away side hugely upped their game in the 3^rd quarter as Piggott again scored two successive shots to make it 41-20.

Walker netted the 25^th point for her side as both teams exchanged goals but Thunder’s Lawson quashed any sign of a comeback and shot twice to make the score line 47-25. Travis then scored the 49^th.

By the end of the 3^rd quarter despite a gripping Loughborough performance the Champions still lead 53-28.

The fourth quarter saw Thunder’s Gabby Marshall move to centre as they made it even harder for Loughborough to convert points.

A held ball for the away side saw Thunder’s Travis extend their lead to 56-29.

Walker soon responded to score Lightning’s 31^st point and an incredible interception from Piggott in the centre half converted another.

At 65-37 Loughborough were showing flashes of brilliance as Walker netted a long-range shot.

But Champion defending by Wing Defence, Laura Malcolm towards the end of the match fazed Loughborough as Lawson scored the 70^th point.

Walker scored the last net to make the final score 72-40 and although Loughborough improved in the second half the damage had been done in the first thanks to Enziano’s flawless shooting.

With a tough away game looming and league leaders Surrey Storm comfortably beating Team Bath 61-46 Manchester Thunder will need to continue their winning form into March to remain SL Champions.

Manchester Thunder Starting line-up: Krista Enziano, Janelle Lawson, Laura Malcolm, Beth Cobden, Emma Dovey, Eleanor Cardwell.

Loughborough Lightning Starting line-up: Nikita Piggott, Vanessa Walker, Florence Edwards, Sophie Candappa, Lauren Massey, Jodie Gibson.

Livid Harpurhey residents won’t stop till BBC documentary is cut

Documentary producers behind the controversial BBC Three series People Like Us have been slammed by livid Harpurhey residents at North City Library.

Hundreds of people attended a public meeting on 18^th February to plan a possible demonstration and form a North Manchester committee to force the show off air.

The documentary series focuses on young people across housing estates in Manchester and is produced by Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd – creators of One Born Every Minute.

But councillors and residents in the area have said the show is unbalanced and are “gutted” at how they have been portrayed.

MP and former Councillor for the ward Graham Stringer said: “While it’s not a perfect community and I don’t think anyone would say it was  I know the vast majority of people in Harpurhey care about it, are decent people and want to contribute positively to the community.”

He added: “The obvious thing to ask is how much does this programme cost most importantly because it’s your money; you all pay your license fee for this. So I want to know why it’s not a balanced programme.”

Residents also complained about the damage the show is causing to businesses and housing in the area.

Last week The M.E.N. obtained an email sent by Dragonfly TV to Northwards Housing, which manages Manchester council’s housing stock in the area. It said the show would ‘celebrate community and stories within the estates’.

However teacher Lynn Weaver of 16 Winterdyne Street said: “I’ve just finished paying my mortgage and all this programme will do is devalue what I have worked for 26 years and it will do the same for everyone else in here. This programme should be stopped as soon as possible we should vote now to have it off air.”

She added: “What the BBC has done is give people right across the country this slanted view of what is actually going on here.”

Residents also say their children are now being bullied and victimised because of the show and where they live.

The series has approximately 1.1 million viewers but Councillor Pat Karney said he will speak to the BBC to have the programme withdrawn.

He added: “We want to hear from the BBC and why they have used public money to run down the Harpurhey area. We want to know that.”

Councillor Karney is also concerned that possible plans for a second series of People Like Us in the near future is also underway.

Reports that the main cast on the show particularly the Wakefield family who own a launderette are being paid for their part in each episode will also be investigated by ward councillors.

Stringer promised those at the meeting that he would to write to the Chairman of the BBC Trust, Chris Patten voicing the grave concerns of the Harpurhey residents.