RESULT: TeamBath 54 Northern Thunder 41
Superleague Round 1: University of Bath Sports Training Village
QUARTER SCORES:
Q1:11-13 (11-13)
Q2:24-17 (13-4)
Q3:34-28 (10-11)
Q4: 54-41 (20-13)
Undefeated in the 2008-09 season, TeamBath started the defence of their Co-operative Netball Superleague title with a consumate display against visiting Northern Thunder to kick off the new term in some style University of Bath Sports Training Village.
Northern Thunder made the better start perhaps spurred on by new recruits Sara Bayman and Rachel Henry who were no doubt looking to make an impact against their former club. After fifteen minutes it was the visitors who had taken charge of the match but not for long.
The second quarter was dominated by TeamBath who outscored the vistors 13 goals to four; five balls were netted without reply in the early seconds taking Bath infront for the first time in the match. It was mix of flawless shooting from the home team’s attack and inspired interceptions from England young guns Stacie Francis, Serena Guthrie and Eboni Beckford-Chambers. Add in a couple of misses from Thunders shooters and TeamBath’s familiar habit of turning up the heat in the second quarter had once again paid dividends.
After the half-time team talk Thunder were re-invigourated and it was a tense fifteen minutes for teams and crowd alike. The visitors brought on Kathryn Turner to GA and the introduction of another former TeamBath player Krystal Gayle at WA saw the ball moving once again into the shooting circle and Thunder just edged a tight third quarter.
But the champions held firm in the last few minutes of the match and Pamela Cookey was typically outstanding – the England shooter missed just one attempt in the whole game for a 96 per cent shooting rate.
Afterwards TeamBath head coach Jess Garland was please with the winning start to the season she said, “we were lacking a little bit of sharpness tonight, but that will come with more match play.
“It was an encouraging start and we’re heading in the right direction,” she added. “The England game on Tuesday gives us the perfect opportunity to work on a few things ahead of our next Superleague game at Loughborough.”
Player of the match, Serena Guthrie, added: “There were a few dips, but it was a good start for us.”
Sara Bayman of Northern Thunder had to admit it felt strange making her debut for her new team at the venue where she played so many games in TeamBath colours.
“It was a bit weird, particularly as it was the first game of the season and the last time I played in the Superleague was for TeamBath,” she said. “It was good to get out there again though. We were disappointed with the second quarter. We felt if we could stay close to them at half time we might get something out of the game.”
TEAMBATH:
GS:Asha Tett
GA: Pamela Cookey
WA: Amanda Trounce
C: Jo Binns
WD: Selena Guthrie
GD: Stacie Francis
GK: Eboni Beckford-Chambers
BENCH:
Sasha Corbin, Kirsty Delvess, Lindsay Keable, Rosie Allison, Alex Sinclair.
NORTHERN THUNDER:
GS: Karen Greig
GA: Vicky Phillips
WA: Rachel henry
C: Jade Clark
WD: Sara Bayman
GD: Emma Dovey
GK: Kerry Almond
BENCH:
Kate Smith, Helen Browne, Krystal Gayle, Kathryn Turner, Charlotte Beenham
Shooting stats:
TeamBath:
Pamela Cookey – 27 from 28 (96 per cent)
Asha Tett – 13 from 18 (72 per cent)
Rosie Allison – 14 from 20 (70 per cent)
Northern Thunder:
Karen Greig – 29 from 39 (74 per cent)
Vicky Phillips – 2 from 5 (40 per cent)
Kathryn Turner – 10 from 13 (77 per cent)
