Superleague 2007/8 Match Reports

TeamBath 46-44 Team Northumbria

TeamBath’s young netballers lost tonight’s (Monday) nail-biting Co-operative Superleague encounter by just two goals.

Team Northumbria ran out 44-46 winners over the reigning Superleague champions – but they were made to battle for the full-hour for the points before clinching victory in the dying months of the game.

The first quarter was played at breakneck speed, with the two teams matching each other goal for goal for the first 13 minutes.
Eboni Beckford-Chambers
TeamBath finally edged the quarter 15-12, with goal shooter Asha Tett hitting some crucial late goals to take her tally to eight from nine at the end of the first period, with the ever reliable Pamela Cookey contributing another 100 per cent, with seven from seven.

TeamBath started the second quarter the brighter of the two teams and managed to build up a four-goal advantage three minutes into the quarter. But Team Northumbria, who went into the contest in second place in the Superleague – one ahead of TeamBath – battled back to level the scores at 23-each two minutes from time, before Aussie goal shooter Lara McLeod scored late on to nudge the visitors 24-25 ahead at the halfway mark.

TeamBath head coach Jan Crabtree shuffled her pack, bringing teenager Kirsty Delves on for Tett at goal shooter, and switching the roles of Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Stacey Francis, with the former going from goal keeper to goal defence.

Team Northumbria’s shooting circle partnership of McLeod and Lisa Stanley were clinical in the opening moments of the third quarter, stretching their lead to four goals within five minutes of the re-start. But TeamBath, fuelled by some terrific interceptions by Beckford-Chambers (pictured), never let Team Northumbria put clear blue water between the two teams.

Captain Cookey kept up the pressure in the shooting circle and Delves scored two late goals to give TeamBath the most slender 36-35 advantage with one quarter remaining.

TeamBath quickly opened up a two-goal margin, but couldn’t pull clear of their opponents in a physical final quarter. With time running out Northumbria pegged TeamBath back to 43 goals a-piece and then scored three in quick succession.

Cookey pulled a goal back, but Northumbria angered the partisan capacity crowd at the Sports Training Village by retaining possession and winding the clock down to win 44-46.

Afterwards coach Crabtree said: “It was a great game, but naturally we’re disappointed it didn’t go in our favour. You’ve got to give Team Northumbria credit. They have a lot of experience and they came here with a good game plan.

“I didn’t feel that we turned over enough ball today,” she added. “But I’m pleased with the way our youngsters stood up today under a lot of pressure.”

TeamBath’s netballers return to action at home on Friday (8th February) when they take-on top of the table Loughborough Lightning. That contest gets underway at 7pm at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.

TeamBath starting seven v Team Northumbria: GS Asha Tett, GA Pamela Cookey, WA Sasha Corbin, C Jo Binns, WD Serena Guthrie, GD Stacey Francis, GK Eboni Beckford-Chambers. Q2 change: Sara Bayman to C. Q3 change: Kirsty Delves to GS, Beckford-Chambers to GD, Francis to GK.

Quarter scores (TeamBath scores first): Q1 15-12, Q2 9-13 (24-25), Q3 12-10 (36-35), Q4 8-11 (44-46)

Shooting stats: Asha Tett – 9 from 14, Pamela Cookey 27 from 29, Kirsty Delves 8 from 16.

Hurricanes 34-52 TeamBath

TeamBath’s netballers put in a spirited last-quarter performance to beat Brunel Hurricanes 52-34 away tonight (Monday).

TeamBath were just two goals ahead at 33-31 going into the last period of play in tonight’s Co-operative Superleague fixture in Guildford.

But the reigning Superleague champions showed their mettle with a determined performance to stretch their winning margin to 18 goals.

The result reinforces TeamBath’s third place in the Superleague table and sets things up nicely for two big games in the space of five days next week, with TeamBath hosting second placed Team Northumbria on Monday (4th February) and top of the table Loughborough Lightning on Friday (8th February).

“It was a very physical game tonight, but we expected that,” said Jan Crabtree, TeamBath’s head coach.

“There was a real determination when the team went out for the final quarter,” she added. “They knew what they had to do and they delivered.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve come away with the win, and particularly the way we went about it in the final quarter.”

Brunel were ahead at the quarter and halfway marks, but TeamBath overhauled them in the penultimate quarter, before putting in a terrific final spell to seal victory and extend their winning run to five games.

England international Pamela Cookey was outstanding in the shooting circle, while TeamBath’s defence limited Brunel to just four goals in the last quarter.

TeamBath return to action on Monday 4th February when they host second place Team Northumbria in an 8pm start at the Sports Training Village.

Then on Friday 8th February they take on Loughborough Lightning, currently top of the table, also at the Sports Training Village in a game getting underway at 7pm.

Quarter scores v Brunel (TeamBath first): 9-12; 11-11 (20-23); 13-8 (33-31); 19-4 (52-34).

TeamBath starting seven: GS Asha Tett; GA Pamela Cookey; WA Tamsin Greenway; C Jo Binns; WD Serena Guthrie; GD Stacey Francis; GK Eboni Beckford Chambers. Q2 changes: Kirsty Delves to GS, Gemma Fletcher to GD.

TeamBath 49-35 Mavericks

TeamBath’s netballers avenged their defeat to Mavericks on the opening weekend of this Co-operative Superleague season by despatching them 49-35 at the University of Bath Sports Training Village tonight (Saturday).

TeamBath got off to a flier, building up a 10-2 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the first quarter of tonight’s contest – before Mavericks struck back to make the score 13-5 at the end of the period. Pamela.jpg

But with the England pairing of Pamela Cookey and Tamsin Greenway both on song in the shooting circle in the second quarter, TeamBath were able to open up a 25-14 advantage at the halfway mark.

Jo Binns, another of TeamBath’s England internationals, had a formidable midcourt tussle with former TeamBath player Clare Elsley, who was making her debut for Mavericks.

And with England captain Amanda Newton back in action for Mavericks following the World Championships and making some timely interceptions, the Bedfordshire side gradually got themselves back in the game in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 35-25.

Mavericks started the final quarter the stronger, reducing the Team Bath lead to seven goals at 38-31 four minutes into a final period that saw Monique Wood, another former TeamBath player making her Mavericks debut, scoring five goals from seven attempts.

But a determined TeamBath side weren’t to be denied, with Binns, Cookey and Greenway all combining well and 17-year-old Kirsty Delves again hitting her shots at goal shooter.

The experienced Cookey at goal attack and her less experienced shooting partner kept the pressure on Mavericks in the shooting circle, opening up a 14-goal winning margin as TeamBath avenged that one goal defeat in October with a 49-35 victory.
Delves.jpg
Gemma Fletcher, who played the first three quarters of the game at goal defence, was named TeamBath Long Tall Sally player of the match.

After the game TeamBath head coach Jan Crabtree said was pleased her side stretched their winning run to four games with a victory over the side they have beaten in both Superleague finals,

“I’m obviously pleased with the win and with parts of the performance,” she said.

“There were patches when we really flowed and kept up the momentum, but there were other spells in the game when we weren’t really clinical enough,” she added. “It was good to reverse the defeat from earlier in the season and to consolidate third spot in the Co-operative Superleague.”

Pamela Cookey, currently juggling training and playing for TeamBath with revising for exams for her Business Administration degree at the University of Bath, said: “I’m happy with the win, but we were a bit scrappy at times.

“We didn’t play as well as we can and there’s still a lot we can do to improve.”

TeamBath starting seven: GS Kirsty Delves, GA Pamela Cookey, WA Tamsin Greenway, C Jo Binns, WD Serena Guthrie, GD Gemma Fletcher, GK Eboni Beckford Chambers.

Changes: Q2: Cookey to GS, Greenway to GA, Sasha Corbin to WA. Q3: Delves to GS, Cookey to GA, Greenway to WA. Q4 changes: Stacey Francis to GD.

Quarter scores (TeamBath first) Q1: 13-5, Q2: 12-9 (25-14), Q3: 10-11 (35-25), Q4: 14-10 (49-35)

TeamBath shooting stats: Pamela Cookey 19 from 22, Kirsty Delves 18 from 27, Tamsin Greenway 6 from 8.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.

TeamBath 80 – 33 Northern Thunder (Saturday 5th January)
Team Bath coach Jan Crabtree said pre-match that she wanted  “to win…and increase our goal average” and her team did exactly that on Saturday 5th January at the University of Bath Sports Training Village when they beat Northern Thunder 80-33.Team Bath, led by captain Tamsin Greenway and the reigning Cooperative superleague champions, needed victory to help them move up from fourth in the table after a spell without a half-dozen players who have been on England world championships duty.

“Top teens” goal-keeper Eboni Beckford Chambers, still 19, and goal-shooter Kirsty Delves, just 17, helped give the home side the start they needed with some eye-catching play in the opening quarter which saw Team Bath lead 15-10.
Beckford Chambers was robust in blunting the Northern Thunder attack whilst Delves proved super-accurate in attack.  Thunder, not overwhelmed though, held on with a spray of goals from Sarah Beattie and toughness from centre-court players Sarah Taylor and Krystal Gayle.

The visitors, with captain Lisa Ferneyhough moving to goal-keeper and Rachael Jarman switching to wing-defence, failed to capitalise on a slow Team Bath start to the second quarter. The Kukri-backed home side -  in which Gemma Fletcher proved effective as an unaccustomed wing-defence – moved to 25-17 with five minutes to go and 31-19 at half-time.  Thunder, meanwhile, were unlucky to lose goal-shooter Sarah Beattie to injury partway through the quarter.  Halimah de Shong took her place.

Team Bath coach Jan Crabtree decided to ring the changes in the third quarter.  Pamela Cookey, back from England representation, came off the bench at goal-shooter and sprung into immediate action with Greenway who moved into the circle from wing-attack. Sasha Corbin came on at wing-attack and Stacey Francis at wing-defence.  Ten minutes into the quarter the home side were 50-21 ahead and 54-23 at three-quarter time.

Not satisfied, Crabtree still shuffled her attack for the final fifteen minutes moving Greenway to goal-shooter, Cookey to goal-attack, Corbin to centre with Rachel Henry coming on at goal-attack.  There were wholesale changes, too, from Thunder but with little impact as Team Bath relentlessly stretched out their lead to take eventual victory by 80-33.

tarting Sevens:
Team Bath:  
GK: Eboni Beckford Chambers;  GD:  Sam Perry; WD: Gemma Fletcher  C: Jo Binns; WA: Tamsin Greenway (Capt); GA: Asha Tett;  GS Kirsty Delves
Bench:  Pamela Cookey, Sasha Corbin; Stacey Francis; Rachel Henry
Substitutes:  3rd quarter:  Cookey for Delves at goal-shooter,  Greenway for Tett at goal-attack, Corbin for Greenway at wing-attack, Frances for Fletcher at wing-defence, Beckford Chambers for Perry at goal-defence,  Fletcher for Beckford Chambers at goal-keeper.  Final quarter:  Corbin for Binns at centre, Henry for Corbin at wing-attack, Greenway for Cookey at GS, Cookey for Greenway at GA.

Northern Thunder:
GK: Rachael Jarman;  GD: Lisa Ferneyhough;  WD: Katherine McGrath;  C:  Sarah Taylor; WA: Krystal Gayle;  GA: Charlotte Beenham;  GS:  Sarah Beattie
Bench:  Halimah De Shong;  Laruen Dobson; Natasha Greenhough
Substitutes:  
Second quarter:  Ferneyhough for Jarman at GK, McGrath for Ferneyhough at GD, Jarman for McGrath at WD;  Third quarter;  De Shong for Beattie.

Quarter scores (Team Bath first);  15-10, 31-19, 54-23, 80-33
Thanks to Matchtight for this report

TeamBath 44 – 25 Celtic Dragons (Friday 7th December)
TeamBath’s netballers made it two wins in a row and moved into the top-four in the Co-operative Superleague with a 44-25 victory over Celtic Dragons last on Friday 7th December. 
TeamBath followed up their victory over Leeds Met Carnegie in the previous week by dominating the game in Cardiff, taking all four quarters.
 
The reigning Superleague champions were still without four of the six players that played for England at the World Championships in New Zealand in November, as well as England shooter Rachel Dunn, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
 
Nineteen-year-old Sam Perry (pictured top) made her Superleague debut for TeamBath at Celtic Dragons, playing the first two quarters at goal defence. Sixteen-year-old Alex Sinclair came into the matchday squad for the first time.
“We put together some good scoring runs, but we didn’t ever develop the momentum we wanted to,” said head coach Jan Crabtree. “But we’re pleased to have won, made it two wins in a row and moved into the top-four in the Superleague. 
“It’s always a bit difficult against Celtic Dragons because both teams know each other’s style of play so well,” she added.
 
“A lot of the squad got some time on court and some of our youngsters are clearly gaining in confidence,” she added  “We’ll be looking to continuing our winning streak and to pushing up the table in the New Year.”
  
TeamBath starting seven v Celtic Dragons: GS Monique Wood, GA Tamsin Greenway, WA Sasha Corbin, C Jo Binns, WD Serena Guthrie, GD Sam Perry, GK Eboni Beckford-Chambers. Q2 changes: Kirsty Delves to GS. Q3 changes Asha Tett to GA, Greenway to WA, Gemma Fletcher to GD. Q4 changes: Tett to GS, Greenway to GA, Rachel Henry to WA.
 
Shooting stats: Monique Wood 5 from 11, Tamsin Greenway 13 from 20, Kirsty Delves 11 from 17, Asha Tett 15 from 18.
 
Quarter scores (TeamBath second): Q1 5-9, Q2 10-20 (5-11), Q3: 17-31 (7-11), Q4 25-44 (8-13).
Thanks to Matchtight for this report.

TeamBath 64-27 Leeds Met Carnegie

Saturday 1st December 2007

Team Bath’s netballers sent out a warning to the rest of the Co-operative Superleague with an emphatic 64-27 win over Leeds Met Carnegie tonight (Saturday).

Team Bath, the reigning Superleague champions, had won just one of their previous four encounters going into tonight’s game at the University of Bath Sports Training Village.

But the return of England player Tamsin Greenway – one of six TeamBath players who was on duty with England at the World Championships in New Zealand – provided the spark that saw TeamBath romp to an impressive win over Leeds.

The two sides were closely matched in an opening quarter that Team Bath edged 14-11. But Team Bath were outstanding in the second quarter. They prevented their opponents from scoring for the opening 10 minutes in a quarter they took 17-3 to achieve a commanding 31-14 lead at the halfway mark.

Sasha Corbin and Jo Binns – who has also just returned from World Championships duty – combined well in centre court, with 17-year-old Serena Guthrie producing some outstanding interceptions at wing defence.

Head coach Jan Crabtree moved Greenway back from goal attack to wing attack for the third quarter, when the midcourt trio of Guthrie, Binns and Greenway ran the game.

Team Bath were in dominant form for the final quarter, keeping up the pressure on their opponents to the very end of the game.

“We played well today,” said coach Crabtree. “We did some soul-searching at our training session on Thursday and the players have produced a performance that they and I can be proud of.

“We were far more consistent, created more shooting opportunities and made fewer errors in possession today.”

Greenway, who captained the side in today’s contest, said: “I loved it today, it’s great to be back. I thought it was a great team performance.

“Our aim was to put out a good solid team performance, and we put out four good quarters today,” she added.

Team Bath need to secure a top-four berth in the 14-game league phase of the Superleague to reach the end of season play-offs and have a chance of retaining their title.

Team Bath line-up:
Q1: GS Asha Tett, GA Tamsin Greenway (c), WA Sasha Corbin, C Jo Binns, WD Serena Guthrie, GD Stacey Francis, GK Eboni Beckford-Chambers. Q2 changes: sub Kirsty Delves to GS. Q3 changes: Tett to GA, Greenway to WA, Gemma Fletcher to GD. Q4 changes: Monique Wood to GS, Greenway to GA, Corbin to WA.

Quarter scores (Team Bath first): Q1: 14-11, Q2: 31-14 (17-3), Q3: 47-23 (16-9), Q4: 64-27 (17-4).

TeamBath shooting stats: Asha Tett 18 from 23, Tamsin Greenway 23 from 31, Kirsty Delves 15 from 20, Monique Wood 8 from 14.

Thanks to matchtight for this match report

TeamBath 27-45 Team Northumbria

Saturday 10th November 2007

Team Bath, who are without the services of six key players through world championships duty or injury, lost away to Team Northumbria in their third match of the Superleague season.

Despite winning last season’s fixture 33-61, the reigning champions failed to build on their hard fought win against Brunel Hurricanes earlier in the week, losing 45-27.

Bath are without Sara Bayman, Jo Binns, Pamela Cookey, Tamsin Greenway and Geva Mentor, who are with the England squad at the world championships and Kukri-backed Team Bath’s England shooter Rachel Dunn is out for the season with a knee injury.

Team Bath put on a strong display but they struggled against a physically strong Northumbria side. However, the fact that 17 year olds Serena Guthrie and Kirsty Delves are in their debut Cooperative Superleague season suggests they can only get stronger.Team captain Eboni Beckford-Chambers said: ‘Team Northumbria came out all guns blazing. It was too physical for us from the off’.

Team Bath will be hoping to get their season back on track when they travel to Loughborough Lightning on 26 November.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.

Thanks to Matchtight for this article.

TeamBath 36-33 Brunel Hurricanes

Monday 5th November 2007

TeamBath’s young netballers recorded their first win of their 2007/8 Co-operative Superleague campaign with a narrow 36-33 victory over Brunel Hurricanes at the University of Bath tonight (Monday).

Hurricanes stormed away to an early lead before being pegged back and overhauled by TeamBath. But TeamBath had to fend off a determined late fight back by Brunel to be sure of the points.

After the game Jan Crabtree, TeamBath’s head coach, said: “I’m pleased we’ve got two points tonight. But I’m disappointed we didn’t pull away from them when we had the opportunity to do so and that we allowed them to come back at us.

“We’ve got a young side and there are still some areas we need to work on,” she added.

Hurricanes raced away to an early lead – they were 4-0 up five minutes into the first quarter.

But the reigning Superleague champions – with six players missing on England duty at the World Championships – chipped away at the visitors’ lead and overhauled the Hurricanes with just over a minute of the first quarter remaining.Rachel Henry

It was fitting that 17-year-old Kirsty Delves - making her first Superleague start - scored the goal that put TeamBath 7-6 ahead late in the first quarter. The young shooter was particularly impressive in both of the first two quarters – hitting nine from 12 and four from five respectively.

TeamBath led by 10-7 at the first interval and had extended that lead to 19-11 at the half-way mark – despite having to withdraw Sasha Corbin with four minutes remaining in the second quarter. That brought 19-year-old Rachel Henry (pictured) nto the fray at wing attack – another youngster to impress in her first taste of Superleague action with TeamBath.
Brunel shuffled their pack for the third quarter, coming back strongly to tie the period 8-8, making the score 27-19 with 15 minutes remaining

Hurricanes, inspired by goal shooter Lara Welham, put in a determined late charge, slashing the TeamBath lead to just three goals with a minute remaining on the clock. Welham’s personal contribution in that quarter was 13 goals from 14 attempts.

But Asha Tett with five from six and Monique Wood with four from seven in that quarter steadied the ship and did enough to ensure TeamBath secured their first win of the season.

Tonight’s game will be the ‘as live’ matched on Sky Sports on Thursday (8th November). See TV schedules for further information.

TeamBath’s next Co-operative Superleague game is away to Team Northumbria on Saturday (10th September).

Quarter scores: TeamBath first: 10-7, 19-11 (9-4), 27-19 (8-8), 36-33 (9-14).

Starting sevens
TeamBath: GS Kirsty Delves, GA Asha Tett, WA Sasha Corbin, C Natalie Seaton, WD Serena Guthrie, GD Stacey Francis, GK Eboni Beckford-Chambers.
Q2 changes: Guthrie to C, Seaton to WD. 11 mins into Q2: Rachel Henry to WA for Corbin, withdrawn injured. Q4 changes: Tett to GS, Monique Wood to GA, Corbin to WA, Seaton to C, Guthrie to WD, Gemma Fletcher to GD, Francis to GK.


Brunel Hurricanes: GS Vicklyn Joseph, GA Lara Welham, WA Natalie Francis, C Kate Mahony, WD Katie Nichols, GD Sharon Smith, GK Naida Hutchinson.
Q2 changes: Camilla Buchanan to C, Amber Kersten to WA. Q3 changes: Welham to GS, Buchanan to GA, Mahony to C, Smith to GK, Hutchinson to GD. Q4 changes: Francis to WA, Nichols to C, Stefania Bello to WD.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.


Members of the media who require further information can contact the TeamBath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or see the TeamBath website at www.teambath.com.

Thanks to Matchtight for this article.

Mavericks 29-28 TeamBath

Monday 29th October 2007

A young Team Bath side lost the opening encounter of their 2007/8 Co-operative Superleague campaign by a single goal to last season’s runners-up Mavericks.

With six players on international duty with England ahead of the World Championships and another England international out for the season through injury, none of the eight players who featured for TeamBath in last season’s final were available to start last night’s match.

It means Team Bath started with a young line-up with an average age of just 19. Despite a late fightback Team Bath went down 29-28 to a more experienced Mavericks side in Hertfordshire.

“Mavericks were a more experienced side and put us under a lot of pressure, but we came back very strongly at the end of the game,” said Jan Crabtree, TeamBath’s head coach.

The two sides were all-square after the first quarter of the game, but Mavericks took the second quarter by five goals. Team Bath, the double Superleague champions, had to reorganise towards the end of the quarter after goal keeper Gemma Fletcher turned her ankle and could play no further part in the game.

After the game Crabtree said: “We had a young team playing last night. It was a really tough initiation and they need to learn from that experience and move forward. If they come through this they will be so much stronger.
Delves Kirsty.jpg
“This was just the first step for us,” she added. “We need to increase our work rate and take advantage when opportunities arise.”

The game saw Team Bath players Serena Guthrie and Kirsty Delves, both aged 17, making their Superleague debuts. Coach Crabtree has also urged fans to turn out in force to cheer on the young side when they play their first home game of the season on Monday 5th November against Brunel Hurricanes. That game is an 8pm start at the Sports Training Village.

For information about tickets please call 01225 384267

“We need out supporters behind us on Monday to help the team get back on track,” added Crabtree. TeamBath starting seven: GK Gemma Fletcher, GD Eboni Beckford-Chambers (capt), WD Stacey Francis, C Serena Guthrie, WA Sasha Corbin, GA Asha Tett, GS Monique Wood.
Q2 changes: Fletcher to GD, Beckford-Chambers to GK.
Changes late Q2: Fletcher withdrawn through injury. Francis to GD, Guthrie to WD, Natalie Seaton to C.
Q3 changes: Tett to GS. Kirsty Delves to GA.

TeamBath’s opener against Mavericks will be televised live on Sky Sports this Thursday (1st November). The first screening is scheduled for 6pm on Sky Sports 3. Check schedules for further information.

TeamBath are without the services of Sara Bayman, Jo Binns, Pamela Cookey, Tamsin Greenway, Jo Harten and Geva Mentor for the first half of the Co-operative Superleague season. The six TeamBath players make up half of England’s 12-strong squad for next month’s World Championships in New Zealand. Meanwhile TeamBath and England shooter Rachel Dunn is out for the season with a knee injury.

The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its Team Bath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.

Thanks to Matchtight for this article.