TeamBath, last year’s Netball Superleague champions, scored a 61-33 win over a spirited Team Northumbria

Brunel Hurricanes 53 Leeds Met Carnegie 32

Team Northumbria 33 TeamBath 61

Mavericks 51 Celtic Dragons 23

Loughborough Lightning 55 Northern Thunder 32

TeamBath, last year’s Netball Superleague champions, scored a 61-33 win over a spirited Team Northumbria to complete an unbeaten league season for 2006-7, with 14 wins from 14 games. Once again, the victory was founded on a superb centre court performance from Bath’s international stars Bayman, Corbin and Binns, and the champions secured home advantage for the first round of play offs to be staged on 26 May 07.

In the play offs, the champions will face last season’s defeated Grand Finallists Mavericks, who put in a controlled and businesslike performance to beat Celtic Dragons 59-23. For Mavericks, Louisa Brownfield was once again in superb shooting form, top scoring with 39, while England captain Amanda Newton and her teammate Janet Coulburne dominated the Dragons attack to force numerous errors, and keep their shooting percentages under 50% for the match. Naomi Siddall, who will captain England A in the forthcoming test series against Australia and New Zealand, put in another sterling performance at WD for Mavericks, picking off countless attacking moves by Dragons, and made it virtually impossible for the Welsh side to feed their circle effectively.

The second play off will feature Brunel Hurricanes, who took home advantage after a 53-32 win over Leeds Met Carnegie, and Loughborough Lightning, who defeated Northern Thunder 55-32. Vicklyn Joseph, promoted to the senior side after some excellent performances for Hurricanes’ youth side this season, was once again in dominant shooting form, netting 41 of her opportunities, and coach Denise Holland was particularly pleased with the manner with which she secured the front line. “Our attacking front court played with speed, strength and finally confidence in their ability to deliver the ball accurately to Joseph, who created a great target for them to aim at.”

In the final game of the weekend, Loughborough Lightning spoiled the party for long-time Thunder coach Marion Lofthouse, who retired from the Superleague at the end of the game. Loughborough took the opportunity to shuffle their shooting line up ahead of the play offs, with Welsh international Becky James the most accurate, netting 14/16 attempts. Veteran shooter Alex Astle top scored with 23 goals, while Heather Clarke contributed 14 goals. The play off between Brunel Hurricanes and Loughborough Lightning, also on 26 May, will be played at the Guildford Spectrum Centre. The winner of this match will play the loser of the first play off (between Bath and Mavericks) for a place in the Grand Final.

PLAY OFF INFORMATION:

26 May 07 TeamBath vs Mavericks at Bath University (time tbc)

Brunel Hurricanes vs Loughborough Lightning at Spectrum Centre, Guildford (time tbc)

02 June 07 Second round of play offs between loser of first match vs winner of second match as shown above

09 June 07 Netball Superleague grand final – Spectrum Centre, Guildford, 5.30pm – to be shown live on Sky Sports.

Picture by Kevin Jones: Naomi Siddall thwarts another Celtic Dragons attack at their game

at the Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield this weekend.

ENDS

Press Enquiries: Rona Hunnisett Tel: 020 8406 3467

RHodium PR Mob: 07850 902126

Email: [email protected]