Mavericks 2012 captain Camilla Buchanan

DEFENDING Fiat Netball Superleague champions Hertfordshire Mavericks started the 2012 season with a 62-47 defeat to Surrey Storm in Hatfield last night (Thursday).

The hosts had beaten their Surrey rivals in last year’s grand final, however Storm took the opening day honours with a 15-goal victory in front of a sold-out Herts Sports Village crowd.

For the visitors, the England trio of Rachel Dunn, Pamela Cookey and Tamsin Greenway were hugely influential.

Storm led 13-10 after the first quarter and extended that to 28-22 by half-time.

After upping a gear, Storm went further ahead during the third quarter to 50-34 and ran out as 62-47 winners.

Mavericks head coach Karen Atkinson will now be looking ahead to the next game on Friday, January 27 away against Yorkshire Jets.