Team Bath prepare to tackle Thunder and Storm
Team Bath will aim to record their first win of the 2012 Fiat Netball Superleague season when they host Northern Thunder at the Team Bath Arena on Monday (30 January).
A young Team Bath side went down 61-49 to Celtic Dragons in Cardiff in their season opener on Friday night in a game that saw four Team Bath players making their Superleague debuts.
The quartet of Sam Cook, Kat Hayes, Yasmin Parsons and Becky Watkins all saw Superleague action for the first time as Team Bath continued the policy of developing young players that has held them ingood stead over the years.
Team Bath put up a brave battle against the Dragons, who featured giant Grenadian shooter Lottysha Cato. Although Team Bath edged the first quarter 14-13, it was the Dragons who eked out a five-goal advantage at half time at 29-24 and went on to wrap up the points.
Team Bath return to action on Monday (30 January) night when they host Northern Thunder – a game that is followed rapidly by another tough home game when they host last year’s runners-up Surrey Storm on Friday 3 February.
Thunder will go into the televised game in good heart after thumping Yorkshire Jets 57-36 in their opening Superleague fixture.
Jess Garland, Team Bath head coach, said: “We’re a young and developing side this year, but we’re still trying to play the kind of entertaining netball that has been Team Bath’s hallmark.
“There were some encouraging performances no Friday in what was a good team effort in terms of our relentless approach to the game. I was really impressed with the way the team stuck together and our cohesion so early in the season.
“We were disappointed to miss the opportunity to beat Celtic Dragons, but there was some real promise for the rest of the season and hopefully we can keep building on each performance as the season goes on.,” she added.
“We’ve got two big home games coming up in the space of a week now,” said Garland. “We always say we’ve got the best fans in the Superleague and we’re looking for them to really get behind us to cheer us on.”
The pre-match entertainment gets for both the Northern Thunder and Surrey Storm games gets underway at 7.15pm.
For a list of Team Bath fixtures please go to https://www.teambath.com/sport/netball/superleague/
To buy tickets for home games please go to http://teambath.ticketline.co.uk/ or call the Ticketline on 0844 888 4412. For group bookings please call 0844 888 4420.
Quarter scores (Team Bath second): Q1: 13-14, Q2: 16-10 (29-24), Q3: 15-10 (44-34) Q4: 17-15 (61-49)
Team Bath starting seven: GS Asha Francis, GA Kadeen Corbin, WA Yasmin Parsons, C Mia Ritchie, WD Becky Watkins, GD Gemma Fletcher, GK Sam Cook.
Bench: Amanda Trounce, Kat Hayes, Kerry Walsh, Emily Rose, Kate McGinley
Q3 changes: Hayes to GS, Francis to GA, Cook to GD, Corbin to GK. Q4 changes: Francis to GS, Corbin to GA, Ritchie to WA, Parsons to C, Fletcher to GD, Cook to GK.
Shooting stats
Asha Francis – 25/34 (74 per cent)
Kadeen Corbin – 19/24 (79 per cent)
Kat Hayes – 5/7 (71 per cent)
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.
