Blue & Gold quartet head home to start final Superleague prep after helping England Netball to runners-up spot at 2022 Quad Series

Team Bath Netball’s England quartet had to settle for runners-up medals at the 2022 Quad Series but will take a lot of positives from the week overall.

Captain Serena Guthrie and star defender Layla Guscoth started all four matches during the series, which looked to be heading for a home success when the Vitality Roses led 41-40 going into the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s final against Australia.

However, the defending champions produced an excellent last period to secure a 58-46 victory and maintain their hold on the trophy.

The previous day had seen the two rivals clash in the last of the round-robin matches. Both teams had already secured their final place, so it was fitting that the game should end in a thrilling 48-48 draw.

Blue & Gold star Sophie Drakeford-Lewis impressed in an unfamiliar wing-attack position as she came off the bench in the final two quarters to help England rally from 38-32 down and share the spoils.

Imogen Allison was also in the squad for the Roses, whose next international action will be the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

New Team Bath recruit Phumza Maweni was a regular starter for South Africa, who were edged out 51-50 by New Zealand in an exciting third-place play-off.

The international players are now heading back to the Team Bath Sports Training Village and joining up with the rest of the Superleague squad to start final preparations for the 2022 season.

It gets under way with a Season Opener double-header at Resorts World Birmingham against Strathclyde Sirens on Saturday 5th February and London Pulse on Sunday 6th February.

The first chance to watch the Blue & Gold in action at the Team Bath Arena is on Friday 18th February when they host Surrey Storm (7.30pm). Tickets for that game, and the seven other home Superleague matches, are on sale now – click here for further details.

Team Bath Netball is supported by its Principal and Pathway Partner, chartered accountants Haines Watts; Rengen Developments, who are an overall Team Bath Partner; Centurion Chartered Financial Planners and Ecus Ltd, our environment partner. Team Bath’s suppliers include O’Neills, 2XU, Pulseroll and Halo Hydration.

Picture credit: Morgan Harlow