Saturday 15th May 2010
TEAMBATH V HERTFORDSHIRE MAVERICKS
4.50pm: Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Q1: 8-13
Q2: 22-21 (14-9)
Q3: 36-33 (13-12)
Q4: 51-44 (15-11)
It was very much green on go for Hertfordshire Mavericks at the start of this almost traditional head-to-head in The Co-operative Netball Superleague Grand Final. From the first centre the passing was hard, fast and flat but patient and accurate, a turnover in the circle by Amanda Newton (the first of many) moved the challengers for the crown into a two goal lead, that was five by the quarter whistle. The defending champions were off the pace and allowing Mavericks to boss them about.
TeamBaths Stacey Francis and Eboni Beckford-Chambers swapped bibs and it was a more energised side that began the quarter. Amanda Newton was finding herself on the wrong end of the whistle and Rosie Allison helped herself to the advantage. A great interception from Jo Binns when Bath had been penalised in the circle turned it back the champions way and the difference was back to just the one goal. Just couple of minutes later and Pamela Cookey sank a shot that took Bath ahead for the first time in the match; 19-18 with 4:50 left to play. An injury time-out a minute later (Serena Guthrie needing treatment on her finger) halted the flow. Into the final minute and with the scores locked at 21-21 Mavericks missed a chance to go in front with a costly pass - it was TeamBath who netted the ball to win the quarter 14-8 and take a one-goal lead into the second half.
Changes to the Hertfordshire Mavericks line-up saw Georgia Schmidt come on at WD, Camilla Buchanan moved into C and Karen Atkinson go to WA. Baths defensive duo swapped back in their starting seven bibs. TeamBaths centre was turned over and the pretenders to the throne were level and after scoring from their centre were back in front. For the next ten minutes the teams were goal for goal, until with two and half minutes to play Mavericks allowed a couple of unforced errors into their game and Bath took charge from a turnover; 32-31 was bumped up to 35-31. At the three-quarter whistle the champions led 36-33.
Hertfordshire Mavericks head coach Maggie Jackson sees her job as putting the players through their paces, and has not been happy with the team doing things the other way around; she claims the heart attacks she has suffered on the bench are not good for her. She brought Rose Morgan Smith back for the final quarter with the mid-court resuming the starting formation. Monique Wood replaced Ella Clark at GA - no changes for Bath. Reshuffling worked well for Mavericks who closed the gap back down to just one goal and then the two teams were locked up again 37-37. Then for the next three minutes TeamBath dominated possession converting what they took from their opponents attacking end, and pressed onto 42-37. Bath were flowing through the court as Mavericks found it harder and harder to find their shooters 48-41 with 2:30 left on the clock. It was deep into the time where Mavericks usually staged their famous comebacks but this time it was not to be as TeamBath pushed on to a seven goal win.
The final score 51-44. TeamBath retain their title making it four Superleague wins in five seasons, another heartbreak for Hertfordshire Mavericks.
