TEAMBATH THROUGH TO SUPERLEAGUE FINAL

TeamBath will defend their Superleague title on June 9th after navigating through their play-off semi-final against Mavericks by 61-45 at the University’s Sports Training Village in a contest that was keenly fought especially in the first half.

Mavericks opened the scoring against the centre pass and seized the early initiative to lead 6-3 after five minutes.  Shooters Louisa Brownfield and Jo Harten combined well from good service into the circle.

Given a wake-up call, Kukri-sponsored TeamBath responded by increasing their pace and mobility. Rachel Dunn moved well in the circle and the home side fought back to lead 9-6.

During a period in which Sara Bayman was persistently penalised in defence, Mavericks took back the initiative to lead 13-10 with two minutes to go.  Two good defensive interceptions from Geva Mentor, who had an outstanding game for the home side, coupled with a couple of rapid-fire goals, meant the home side pegged back the deficit to 12-13 at quarter time.

Only the slimmest of gaps separated the two sides for the first ten minutes of the second quarter.  Team Bath took a 16-14 lead but saw it overturned. Mavericks led 20-19 and 21-20 but were held.  The fight for the centre-court became more and more intense whilst a significant battle emerged between Mavericks’ Brownfield and Team Bath captain Billy Bowers at goal-attack and goal-defence respectively.

With five minutes to go of the half, TeamBath mounted a minor break-away to lead 26-21 and were 27-23 ahead at the break thanks to superb athleticism and sheer dogged determination from Tamsin Greenway, Jo Binns and Pamela Cookey at wing-attack, centre and goal-attack respectively for the home side.
“Early in the second half we turned over some balls and took our chances”, said TeamBath player of the match, Tamsin Greenway.

“We capitalised on some of their errors and that’s probably what made the difference”, said coach Jan Crabtree.  “Once we got ahead that put more pressure on them and all my players worked tirelessly to get the result”.

The third quarter was a different story altogether.  England captain Amanda Newton and Janet Colbourne, both previously totally solid for Mavericks in the circle, saw their defence breached time and again with some long-range shooting by a spectacular Dunn and Cookey for Bath.  Equally, Greenway ranged freely against a robust by tiring Mavericks’ wing-defence, Naomi Siddall.

TeamBath, playing with Natalie Seaton on at wing-defence for Sara Bayman, led 31-26, 37-30 and 42-32 and, finally, 46-36 in the quarter.  Despite the swing in fortunes Debbie Jones continued to impress for the visitors at centre - covering mileage on the court and feeding accurately into the circle.

Having laid the foundations for victory in the third quarter TeamBath pursued it ruthlessly in the final 15 minutes.  They defended robustly and, with Bayman back on court for Binns at centre, crafted some strong centre-court moves with growing confidence.

Cookey was particularly accurate with some flicked shots into the net.  With five minutes to go the home side still led by more than 10 goals and despite some spirited counter-attacks by Mavericks they closed it out at 61 – 45 to book their place in the final on June 9th in Guildford where they will be defending champions.

Their opposition there, ironically, could still be Mavericks if the Bedford-based side win the second play-off on June 3rd where they will face the winners of today’s other semi-final play-off between Loughborough Lightning and Brunel Hurricanes.

“I don’t think we’re 15 goals behind Team Bath”, said assistant Mavericks coach and former England captain Fiona Murtagh after the match. “It was a close match today and we’ll be back for more in a couple of week’s time because we’re determined to win the play-off”.

“We’ve got a weekend off now but we’ll be watching closely the play-off and looking at what we need to achieve before the final”, said Greenway of the home side who are still unbeaten this season in the Superleague.

Starting Sevens:
TeamBath: GS Rachel Dunn; GA: Pamela Cookey; WA:  Tamsin Greenway; C: Jo Binns; WD: Sara Bayman; GD: Billy Bowers; GK Geva Mentor
Substitutes:  Third quarter:  Natalie Seaton for Bayman and WD; Final quarter:  Bayman for Binns at C.
Mavericks: GS: Jo Harten; GA: Louisa Brownfield; WA: Karen Atkinson; C:   Debbie Jones; WD: Naomi Siddall; GD: Amanda Newton; GK Janet Colbourne
Substitutes:  Third quarter:  Brownfield to GS and Harten to GA
Quarter Scores:  (Team Bath first):  12-13, 27-23, 46-46 and 61-45
Shooting Stats:  Dunn 86%; Cookey 83%; Harten 70%; Brownfield 93%
Thanks to Matchtight Ltd for this press release and Phil Searle for the photos. 

TEAMBATH NETBALL ACES ON SHOW

Team Bath’s netball aces will be among the stars of the show at the Royal Bath and West show, which is currently underway.

Several members of the team, who are bidding to retain their national Superleague title, will be on Team Bath’s stand at the show on Thursday and Friday 31st May and 1st June. 

England players Rachel Dunn, Jo Binns (pictured) and Sara Bayman met show-goers and signed autographs between 11am and 1pm on Thursday, with England international Tamsin Greenway and Welsh international Billy Bowers attending on Friday.

The Team Bath stand highlights the wide range of health and fitness opportunities available at the Sports Training Village. The Royal Bath and West Show takes place at the Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, concluding on Saturday 2nd June.
Thanks to Matchtight Ltd for this press release and Phil Searle for the photos.