I’ll Huff, and I’ll puff…
[That was a ‘wind’ reference, by the way… Hurricanes? Geddit?] Coming an excellent third in the 2006-2007 final table (and joint on points with the second place Mavericks team), Brunel will perhaps be disappointed at falling in the first playoff hurdle against a strong Loughborough Lightning team. They have, however shown the world that they mean business; Brunel Hurricanes mean business!
Their London base gives the team a location advantage - more good players are likely to be in their ‘catchment area’ than some of the other teams - and certainly they’ve got a strong squad and are blessed with a good smattering of International players in Sonia Mkoloma, Naida Hutchinson and Chioma Ezeogu.
Another team with massive potential, Brunel Hurricanes, like Loughborough Lightning, need to prove themselves against favourites Bath. Both are more than capable. Will this be Brunel Hurricanes’ season?
Squad
The Brunel Hurricaes squad is strong - three world-class players form a nice basis for any team, but when they of the quality of Sonia Mkoloma, Naida Hutchinson and Chioma Ezeogu it is easy to see why the Mavericks did so well last year. Lara Welham - previously an Australian under-21 international - joins the team which should also provide a boost.
The Brunel Hurricanes squad for the 2007-2008 season is as follows:
Player Name [position(s)] (see Netball Positions for a key)
- Sonia Mkoloma [GD]
- Naida Hutchinson [GD, GK]
- Chioma Ezeogu [WA]
- Vicklyn Joseph [GS]
- Lara Welham []
- Camilla Buchanan [C]
- Natalie Francis [WA, C]
- Stefania Bello [WD, GD]
- Katie Nichols [C, WD]
- Kate Mahony []
- Donna Fearon []
- Sharon Smith []
- Rhianne Mchale [GS]
- Jade Forbes-Wattley [GK, GD]
Fixtures
For Brunel Hurricane’s 2007-2008 netball Superleague fixtures, see our comprehensive Netball Superleague Fixtures list.
Summary
We think that Brunel Hurricanes might be one of the teams to give the mighty Team Bath a bit of a shock this year. Everyone is out to take Bath down and we think there are 3 teams - including the Hurricanes - that could do it. They got a big squad of talented players to choose from, and with a little bit of consistency they could challenge the favourites. Certainly we would expect to see them in the playoffs come the end of the season.