Fiat Netball Super League-Champions TeamBath go down to Mavericks
Defending champions TeamBath went down to top-of-the-table Hertfordshire Mavericks 52-42 in tonight¹s (Friday) Fiat Netball Superleague clash at the University of Bath.
The contest, played out in front of another bumper crowd of around 940 fans, was a rematch of last season¹s final - but the losing side then came out on top tonight, following their one-goal victory in February with a more decisive margin this time around.
TeamBath found themselves playing catch-up from the start after trailing 12-7 at the end of the first quarter to a physical Mavericks side featuring five former TeamBath players.
Although TeamBath worked hard to steal lots of possession, they couldn¹t make the most of it and a dogged Mavericks side made sure they returned to Hertfordshire with the spoils.
Afterwards TeamBath head coach Jess Garland said: ³I thought we turned over enough ball to win the game today. We¹re still a work in progress and we need to capitalise on that turnover if we¹re going to beat teams in the top-two.
³There¹s a lot of the season left, we¹re only half way through it so there¹s a long way to go,² she added. ³In some ways it¹s good that we¹ve had back to back games against two of the stronger teams because it reinforces what we need to do going forward.²
TeamBath and England defender Stacey Francis added: ³I think we were more disappointed by our performance than by the defeat today. We feel as though we have moved forward from the last time we played Mavericks, so we¹re disappointed that the deficit was bigger today.
³But there were some positives tonight with the introduction of new players like Mia (Ritchie) and Scarlett (Williams). We also have real strength on our bench and confidence in them coming into the team.²
Mavericks captain Louisa Brownfield was delighted with her side¹s victory. She said: ³We always knew it was going to be a really tough game. TeamBath¹s reputation speaks for itself. They are a fantastic team, but we¹ve gelled really early this season and that¹s a positive thing for us to take forward.²
Mavericks came out of the traps the quicker of the two and took a 12-7 advantage into the first break. It could have been worse for TeamBath, who saw the visitors score five goals without reply to take the score from 6-4 to 6-11.
The visitors extended that lead to 12-5 before goal shooter Asha Tett and goal attack Pamela Cookey both netted in the final minute of the quarter to close the gap.
TeamBath started the second quarter the way they ended the first, cutting the deficit quickly to 15-12, but once again, Mavericks dominated the middle of the quarter, at one time opening up a 10-goal lead at 25-15, with captain Louisa Brownfield and former TeamBath player Monique Wood both impressive in the shooting circle.
Stacey Francis and Eboni Beckford-Chambers produced some inspirational interceptions for TeamBath to prompt another strong finish to the quarter. Nevertheless the visitors just edged the quarter to take a 25-19 lead into the third quarter.
Sasha Corbin came at her old stamping ground for Mavericks at the halfway mark, but TeamBath left themselves with a mountain climb going into the final quarter after Mavericks took the third quarter by a couple of goals to extend their lead to eight.
Coach Garland shuffled her pack for the final quarter, with Cookey and Tett swapping places in the shooting circle and introducing Scarlett Williams at wing defence.
The final quarter was the highest scoring of the four, but despite Cookey¹s continuing unerring accuracy, supported well by Tett, it was the visitors who closed out the game to return home with the points.
Starting sevens TeamBath GS Asha Tett, GA Pamela Cookey (capt), WA Mia Ritchie, C Serena Guthrie, WD Gemma Fletcher, GD Stacey Francis, GK Eboni Beckford-Chambers Q2 changes: Beckford-Chambers to GD, Francis to GK. Q4 changes: Cookey to GS, Tett to GA, Scarlett Williams to WD, Francis to GD, Beckford-Chambers to GK Bench: Kirsty Delves, Rosie Allison, Katy Rose, Scarlett Williams, Sam Perry,
Mavericks GS Louisa Brownfield (capt), GA Monique Wood, WA Karen Atkinson, C Rose Morgan-Smith, WD Camilla Buchanan, GD Layla Guscoth, GK Lindsay Keable Q3 changes: Sasha Corbin to WA, Atkinson to C Bench: Hazel Schofield, Vicklyn Joseph, Georgia Schmidt, Rachel Mulloy
