Posted 11th Nov 2018

Blue & Gold up and running in pre-season with two tri-tournament victories in Loughborough

Team Bath Netball made an encouraging start to their pre-season fixtures as they recorded two well-earned wins in a tri-tournament hosted by Loughborough Lightning on Saturday.

All 14 players in the Sitec-sponsored Blue & Gold squad got valuable court time as they stepped up their preparations for the 2019 Vitality Superleague campaign, which begins in January – click here for ticket information.

Serena Guthrie, fresh from being named as England captain for the test series against Uganda, enjoyed her first run-out in Blue & Gold since 2014 and was joined on court by fellow summer signings Summer Artman, Leila Thomas and Beryl Friday, as well as up-and-coming NPL player Hannah Passmore.

After beating Strathclyde Sirens 39-33 in their opening match, Team Bath found themselves six goals adrift going into the final quarter of their second game against host club Lightning.

However, they showed great determination and quality to get back level before two goals in the final minute secured a 39-37 win and overall victory in the tournament.

Team Bath Netball Head Coach Jess Thirlby said: “We got everyone on across both matches and for a healthy amount of court time. As with most teams at this stage of pre-season, it is important to afford players positional exposure and combination time on court together but ensuring it is purposeful and I felt we did that.

“The results are not the sole driving force behind these fixtures but winning is also a habit and our focus at the moment is on how we perform and the way we want to play, which will enable us to win later in the season when it really matters.

“It was pleasing that despite so many changes we were able to come from behind in both matches and turn the score around. It’s not the win that is important but the behaviours and actions that we see from ourselves when in those situations and the leadership that we expect from one another to be better.”

Team Bath face two more pre-season challenges this Saturday (November 17) as they visit champions Wasps Netball for a tri-tournament also featuring new franchise London Pulse.

The Blue & Gold then have a tri-tournament of their own to look forward to on Saturday, December 15 as they play host to benecosMavericks and Surrey Storm. Doors open at 1pm and supporters will be able to enjoy three games in one action-packed afternoon at the Team Bath Arena.

Tickets are on sale now for the Team Bath tri-tournament – click here for more information.

Team Bath Netball are sponsored by Sitec and supported by partners Mogers DrewettSoldi and Netball South WestCenturion Chartered Financial Planners are supporting the team’s performance analysis and people development capabilities, Viper 10 are their Sportswear Supplier and Skins provide the team with compression wear.

Other news articles

Team Bath Netball stars help local schoolchildren enjoy day of sporting fun in partnership with Bath Recreation

Young pupils at Twerton Infant School enjoyed an inspirational day of sporting fun at the University of Bath, thanks to Team Bath Netball and their partners at Bath Recreation Limited. Around 50 children in School Years 1 and 2...

Read More
In-form mid-courter Lucy Button elevated to Team Bath Netball NXT Gen League squad ahead of sell-out season opener

Dynamic defensive mid-courter Lucy Button has been added to the Team Bath Netball squad for the 2025 NXT Gen League season, which starts in early February with a sell-out home fixture against Nottingham Forest. Button, who plays wing-defence and...

Read More
A composite picture of the University of Bath student performance netball 1st and 2nd squads, who have both won their respective BUCS Premier Division South title in the 2024-25 season
Double delight as Bath student netballers both win BUCS Premier Division South titles on same day

Students on the University of Bath performance netball programme are celebrating a first-ever BUCS Premier Division South title double. A wonderful Wednesday at the Team Bath Sports Training Village saw the 1st beat Exeter 68-37 to secure the Premier...

Read More
Team Bath Netball Sponsors
Partners and Suppliers