Top-flight netball returns hot on the heels of England’s success

Netball fans will get the opportunity to cheer on some of the stars of England’s historic international series win over Australia when the 2013 Superleague gets underway at the University of Bath next week.

Four current Team Bath players – Pamela Cookey, Kadeen Corbin, Stacey Francis and Serena Guthrie – featured for the England team that scored a whitewash series victory over the world number one team.

And Cookey, who captained England it that 3-0 series win, said she can’t wait to return to action with Team Bath. Team Bath get their 2013 Superleague campaign underway at home to Celtic Dragons on Thursday 7 February.

“It’s been an absolutely amazing experience to be part of it all,” she said. “I was so proud to be part of the team and particularly to be captain.

“The girls worked so hard together on and off the court,” she added.

“It’s great to be back at Bath again and it will be a good chance for people to come and re-live the excitement of the international series at the University of Bath,” said Cookey, after a season playing away from the Sports Training Village.

“We’re a good squad and we should have a good season if we can put it all together on court in all four quarters.”

In England’s final game of the series against Australia, England ended the game with a full team of seven past and present Team Bath players on court – showing the pipeline of netballing talent that has been created at the University of Bath.

Indeed, 10 of England’s squad for the series were current or past Team Bath players, including University of Bath graduates Sara Bayman (Sport and Exercise Science) Sasha Corbin (Sports Performance) and Rachel Dunn (Biology).
Jess Thirlby, Team Bath’s head coach, said: “It was great to see so many of our current and past players having such a major role in England’s success in that remarkable series against Australia.

“Team Bath have always strived to develop talented young players and that policy is bearing fruit now for England,” she added. “We’ve welcomed back some of our experienced players for our 2013 Superleague campaign, but we also have some talented youngsters too, so it should be an exciting season.

“If you enjoyed the international series, come along and see some more top action at Team Bath.”

Team Bath get their campaign in the 2013 Superleague underway at home to Celtic Dragons on Thursday 7 February. Doors open at 7pm and the action gets underway at 8pm.

They also host Loughborough Lightning on Friday 1 March and Team Northumbria on Friday 8 March in phase one of the Superleague

Home games are played at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, which hosted the first of the three-game England v Australia series, when England ran out 58-53 winners.

For further information and ticket details please see the Team Bath website Superleague page.

You can also call 0844 8884412 to buy Team Bath home Superleague tickets.

You can find out more about Team Bath on our website teambath.com

You can also follow Team Bath on Twitter at twitter.com/teambath or facebook.com/teambath

For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518.