Hosts Team Bath Netball pipped by Saracens Mavericks in exciting conclusion to The BiG Showdown weekend

Team Bath Netball were edged out 33-27 after a final flourish from Saracens Mavericks in the showpiece finale of The BiG Showdown at the University of Bath, denying the home team a fifth straight crown in their annual pre-season tournament.

This year the tournament took a different twist, taking place over two days with four of Team Bath’s Vitality Superleague rivals – Severn Stars, Surrey Storm, Strathclyde Sirens and Mavericks as well as the Knights men’s team, joining them.

It was Knights who proved the ace debutants in the pack, only denied their own place in the final when Mavericks won their final round-robin game. Meanwhile they drew admiration from Sunday’s 400-strong crowd with their athleticism.

Mavericks were presented with the inaugural Lyn Gunson Trophy at the end of two days and 15 matches of netball.  The trophy was named to honour the player-development guru who was instrumental in forging a successful netball culture for both Team Bath and England.

To compete in the Showdown for that trophy meant a lot to Team Bath Superleague head coach Anna Stembridge and her opposite number Kat Ratnapala on the Mavericks side.

“It was an exciting final, it’s always hotly contested between us and Mavericks, there’s a lot of history between the two sides,” Stembridge said.

“The fact we were paying for the Lyn Gunson Trophy, for both coaching teams, there was a lot of pride and a lot of history.

“We’ve all been coached and we’ve all been mentored by Lyn, so that was a little extra edge.

“I’m really happy in terms of the way the girls put out their performance. We wanted to make changes, gather more information, expose different combinations, expose different people, and it was pleasing to see.

“Certainly it was the same for them and that’s what this tournament is all about, trying to make sure you’re taking as much learning from those opportunities as possible.”

Stembridge is eager for a similar event to take place next year.

She added: “Brilliant occasion. I think it’s the first time a franchise has hosted a two-day tournament.

“For coaches, what an opportunity to play that many games in two days against different styles of opponents.

“It gives you the exposure that you need and the freedom to try different combinations and test out youngsters coming through the ranks like we have. So it’s a brilliant opportunity and I really hope that it happens again next year.”

Team Bath had already sealed their spot in the final with a win over Surrey Storm in the first of the final round of group matches.

That meant they had plenty of rest ahead of the final, played out in front of a strong crowd at the Team Bath Arena.

Kim Commane and George Fisher shared the opening goals for either side before Mavericks over-turned the centre passes first via Kadeen Corbin. From there they forged ahead and developed a three-goal advantage.

An inspired mid-court interception from goal-attack Sophie Drakeford-Lewis spurred Team Bath back into the first quarter as Commane dropped the following shot.

Drakeford-Lewis was the most impressive of the shooting pair, sinking a series of efforts to keep Mavericks’ lead down to 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Mavs pulled a little further clear in the early exchanges after the restart at 12-8. From there Team Bath roared back, bouncing off a Fionnuala Toner turnover which got them back within a point.

Commane began to find her shooting rhythm while Drakeford-Lewis continued to look imperious at the post, briefly putting the Blue & Gold in front before Mavericks edged into a 16-15 half-time lead.

Again the third quarter began with Mavs threatening to pull well ahead, but again Team Bath made sure that did not happen.

The Blue & Gold had found themselves three-goals down before Eboni Usoro-Brown snagged a crucial interception that led to Commane and Drakeford-Lewis cutting the gap.

Mia Ritchie also produced a spectacular play, hooking a pass back in as she ran out of the court as Team Bath entered the final quarter down 23-22.

But when Mavericks claimed the first four points of the last quarter there was no route back for Team Bath.

The Blue & Gold found their options shut down as Mavs put on a defensive stranglehold, with George Fisher on stunning form in the shooting circle to stretch out their lead to six and pick up the trophy.

Results – Group Matches

Day One:

Team Bath beat Severn Stars (36-23) – 3 points

Team Bath beat Knights (38-28 – 3 points

Team Bath beat Strathclyde Sirens (28-27) – 3 points

Day One Total:  9 points

SaracensMavericks beat Sirens (30-19) – 3 points

SaracensMavericks lost to Knights (27-38) – 0 points

SaracensMavericks beat Surrey Storm (51-26) – 3 points

Day One Total:  6 points

Surrey Storm lost to Knights (32-35) – 1 point

Surrey Storm beat Severn Stars (32-28) – 3 points

Surrey Storm lost to SaracensMavericks (26-51) – 0 points

Day One Total:  4 points

Severn Stars lost to Team Bath (23-36) – 0 points

Severn Stars lost to Surrey Storm (28-32) – 1 point

Severn Stars lost to Strathclyde Sirens (17-37) – 0 points

Day One Total: 1 point

Strathclyde Sirens lost to Mavericks (19-30) – 0 points

Strathclyde Sirens lost to Team Bath (27-28) – 1 point

Strathclyde Sirens beat Severn Stars (37-17) – 3 points

Day one total:  4 points

Knights beat Surrey Storm (35-32) – 3 points

Knights lost to Team Bath (28-38) – 0 points

Knights beat Mavericks (38-27 – 3 points

Day one total:  6 points

Day Two

Team Bath lost to Mavericks (21-37) – 0 points

Team Bath beat Surrey Storm (42-21) – 3 points

Day two total:  3 points

Surrey Storm beat Strathclyde Sirens (30-22) – 3 points

Surrey Storm lost to Team Bath (21-42) – 0 points

Day two total:  3 points

Knights lost to Stars (28-29) – 1 point

Knights beat Strathclyde Sirens (34-28) – 3 points

Day two total:  4 points

Severn Stars beat Knights (29-28) – 3 points

Severn Stars lost to SaracensMavericks (29-36) – 0 points

Day two total:  3 points

Strathclyde Sirens lost to Knights (28-34) – 0 points

Strathclyde Sirens lost to Surrey Storm (22-30) – 0 points

Day two total:  0 points

Saracens Mavericks beat Team Bath (37-21) – 3 points

Saracens Mavericks beat Severn Stars (36-29) – 3 points

Day Two total:  6 points

Result – FINAL:  Team Bath 27 – Saracens Mavericks 33

Quarter scores – Team Bath first:  7 – 9, 8-7 (15-16), 7-7 (22-23), 10-5 (27-33)

Team Bath starting seven:

GS:  Kim Commane; GA:  Sophie Drakeford-Lewis; WA:  Rachel Shaw; C:  Mia Ritchie; WD: Fi Toner:  GD:  Eboni Usoro Brown; GK Summer Artman

Changes:  Q2:  None; Q3:  None; Q4:  Betsy Creak to GS; Tash Pavelin to GD; Usoro Brown to GK

Saracens Mavericks starting Seven

GS: George Fisher; GA:  Kadeen Corbin; WA:  Georgia Lees; C: Sasha Corbin (capt); WD:  Gabby Marshall; GD:  Jo Trip;  GK:  Razia Quashie

Changes:  Q2:  None; Q3: Marshall to WA; Corbin, S to C; Chloe Essam to GA, Beth Ecuyer-Dale to WD. Q4:  Georgia Lees to WA; Trip to GK, Quashie to GD.