Keenan confident team can Storm past fellow strugglers Surrey

TEAM Northumbria welcome Surrey Storm to Sport Central on Saturday still searching for an elusive first Netball Superleague win of the season.

But TeAroha Keenan’s side will have to dig out that victory without key defender Hayley Mulheron after the Scotland star was ejected from Saturday’s clash against Wasps for repeat offending.

TN’s 74-38 defeat at the hands of the reigning champions was tough to take for a group of players desperate to turn their campaign around.

But Surrey have also struggled and are without a win this season.

“Surrey Storm is a winnable game for us and we’ll be working harder than ever all this week to make sure we’re ready,” said Keenan.

“Of course Hayley’s absence is a blow. She’s an experienced player and we’ll miss her on court.

“But we have to get over that and it really is a case of going back to the drawing board.”

She added: “Ironically, we played some of our best netball after Hayley was ejected and we were down to six.

“I want to know why it takes a serious situation like that for my players to stand up and fight.”

It is understood Keenan will not ask Mulheron to curb her instincts despite several run-ins with officials.

And it is likely Keenan will be keeping a close eye on the game management of her players – and that of the referees – this Saturday at Sport Central.

“There are three teams in the league without a win,” she added.

“Ourselves, Severn Stars and Surrey are all looking for that opening victory before the mid-season break and of course that makes this weekend a huge game.”