Team Bath Netball looking to “keep the vision open” as they head to Celtic Dragons for live-streamed Netball Super League Round 3 clash

Team Bath Netball are back on the road for the second time in three days today (Monday) as they head to Cardiff’s House of Sport to face Celtic Dragons in another live-streamed match (7pm centre-pass).

The Haines Watts-sponsored Blue & Gold go into Round 3 of the 2023 Netball Super League season on the back of a 72-42 defeat at London Pulse on Friday.

Head Coach Asha Francis praised her team’s defensive display but said they needed to “keep the vision open” at key moments in attack as they continue to bed in new combinations.

“It’s looking at what’s causing the indecision and errors in attack because I cannot fault the defensive effort we had tonight,” she said after the game. “I felt in the first half in particular that we weren’t seeing over the mess. There was a lot of pressure and we got squeezed quite tight, and we weren’t allowed to see wider than what was in front of us.

“It’s about keeping the vision open when the pressure is on, making sure we see all of the options and then making choices based on what’s going to be best for the next few phases.”

Team Bath got off to a good start at the Copper Box Arena, establishing an early two-goal lead thanks to Kadeen Corbin’s intercept. Pulse turned things around but, with young goal-keeper Jayda Pechova in good form against her former club, the visitors stayed in the contest and were just 16-10 down after the first quarter.

Pulse cranked up the defensive pressure in the second period and stretched their advantage to 38-20, then carried that momentum into the third quarter which they won 19-9.

Team Bath were determined to finish the game on a positive note and were on course to win the fourth quarter as University of Bath sporting scholars Hannah Passmore and Sophie Kelly both made an impact in the shooting circle, only for Pulse to score nine goals in the last five minutes and edge it 15-13.

Monday’s opponents Dragons have also lost their opening two matches against tough opposition, going down 68-42 to Manchester Thunder and 65-51 at Loughborough Lightning, so both teams will be keen to get their first win on the board.

The match is being live-streamed on Sky Sports YouTube, watch here:

Team Bath match-day squad to face Celtic Dragons: Imogen Allison, Summer Artman, Lily-May Catling, Kadeen Corbin, Betsy Creak, Bethan Dyke, Kirsty Harris, Sophie Kelly, Annie O’Rourke, Hannah Passmore, Jayda Pechova, Ali Wilshier.

There’s just four days to go until Team Bath’s first home game of the season against Strathclyde Sirens (Friday 24th February, 7.30pm centre-pass) – click here to get your tickets!

Team Bath Netball is supported by its Principal and Pathway Partner, chartered accountants Haines Watts; Bath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are overall Team Bath Partners; Centurion Chartered Financial Planners; Ecus Ltd, our environment partner; and PDS Coaching, who provide performance mentoring. Team Bath’s suppliers include O’Neills, 2XU and Pulseroll.

Match stats

London Pulse starting combination: GS Olivia Tchine, GA Sacha McDonald, WA Alicia Scholes, C Jade Clarke, WD Zara Everitt, GD Funmi Fadoju, GK Lindsay Keable. Impact players: Berri Neal, Ellie Rattu, Ashleigh Dekker, Chelsea Pitman, Halimat Adio.

Team Bath Netball starting combination: GS Betsy Creak, GA Kadeen Corbin, WA Kirsty Harris, C Ali Wilshier, WD Imogen Allison, GD Lily-May Catling, GK Jayda Pechova. Impact players: Summer Artman, Annie O’Rourke, Bethan Dyke, Sophie Kelly, Hannah Passmore.

Quarter-scores (London Pulse first): Q1 16-10; Q2 38-20 (22-10); Q3 57-29 (19-9); Q4 72-42 (15-13).