TN handed eighth loss on bounce by Severn

TEAM NORTHUMBRIA 43 SEVERN STARS 47

A STIRRING fourth-quarter fightback was not enough to break Team Northumbria’s Superleague losing streak as TeAroha Keenan’s side lost an eighth straight topflight clash.

The Sport Central club remains rooted to the foot of the table despite a battling display against Severn Stars.

And TN only had themselves to blame after the hosts dominated possession in the final 15 minutes before spurning chance after chance down the stretch.

Of the three TN players returning from the Commonwealth Games, only Hayley Mulheron made the starting seven.

The veteran Scot partnered Aussie rookie Toni Anderson in defence with Malawi’s Loreen Ngwira on the bench.

And Northern Ireland shooter Lisa Bowman was held in reserve as TeAroha Keenan went with the all Kiwi attack that started the season.

Chiara Semple and Tamsin Moala have experienced a mixed campaign in the shooting circle but the New Zealand duo initially looked back to their best against the Stars.

And it was the former’s five goal burst that saw the hosts take a 13-12 first quarter lead after trailing 12-8.

TN opened up a fourgoal lead within the first two minutes of the second quarter.

Moala suddenly came to the fore with a flurry of coolly taken goals.

But it was Semple who kept TN in touch – only for the visitors to take a two-goal lead into the break.

Keenan opted to shuffle her pack with Semple moving to goal attack and the impressive Anderson switching to wing defence.

Ngwira slotted in at goalkeeper and Bowman provided TN with a physical presence up front.

TN had it all to do as they trailed 41-34 heading into the final quarter.

But Stars stayed strong in the face of sustained late pressure to close out a second win of 2018.