Team Bath Netball keep fighting to the end as Super League era comes to an emotional conclusion in Cardiff
Team Bath Netball’s historic 19-year tenure in the Super League came to an end on Saturday on an emotional evening in Cardiff.
Cardiff Dragons claimed a well-deserved 58-41 victory on the night, built on a strong first-half performance, but Team Bath fought to the end and gave a large, vocal travelling contingent of fans in the Utilita Arena plenty to cheer as they won the second half 23-21.
Player-coach Kadeen Corbin, a veteran of three spells in the iconic Blue & Gold and title winner in 2013, fittingly scored Team Bath’s last goal in the Super League at the end of a fantastic fourth quarter which demonstrated the squad’s full potential – click here to watch the match again on BBC iPlayer.
The final buzzer prompted plenty of tears but also plenty of pride among the Team Bath players, coaches, staff and supporters as they reflected not just on the Super League journey overall but also what the current squad might have achieved moving forwards.
Asha Francis, Head Coach of Team Bath Netball, said: “For this group it was always about what we could build and create over four years. They have got a lot of years ahead of them and I’m really proud of what they have achieved so far. Yes, we haven’t finished where we would expect or want but that doesn’t mean we haven’t achieved stuff across these two years.
“We were a bit slow off the mark in the first half but the second half was much, much better. Lisa Putt came on and had a massive impact on the game. I wanted players out there who would give me everything and not give up until the final whistle. Lisa brought that and ignited something in the rest of the team.
“There are so many moments I’ve had over the past few weeks that have felt like a last moment but this is the last ‘last’. It’s tough, it’s the end of an era and incredibly sad.
“To our fans, we know you guys are the best in the Super League and have been behind us the whole way. It’s been a shift in terms of what they have been used to over the last couple of years [in terms of results] but they haven’t stopped supporting us, in fact we’ve had more fans than ever coming to games and really getting behind this young squad. I am incredibly grateful to the fans and to the whole netball community in the South West.”
There will be one last celebration of Team Bath’s trailblazing contribution to netball this Friday (21st) when a host of legendary names from the past two decades return to the Blue & Gold for an All-Stars game. The current squad will also be taking to the court and centre-pass at the Team Bath Arena is 7pm. Tickets, priced £15 for adults and £5 concessions, are available now by clicking here.
Team Bath Netball is supported by Bath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are both overall Team Bath Partners. Flyhawk supply Team Bath’s performance clothing and off-court apparel.
Match stats
Cardiff Dragons starting combination: GS Georgia Rowe, GA Phillipa Yarranton, WA Elle McDonald, C Khanyisa Chawane, WD Nia Jones, GD Jacqui Newton, GK Leah Middleton. Impact players: Nansi Kuti, Zoe Matthewman, Hannah Passmore, Lucy Howells, Beth Ecuyer-Dale.
Team Bath Netball starting combination: GS Sloan Burton, GA Kadeen Corbin, WA Kirsty Harris, C Bethan Dyke, WD Phoebe Maslen, GD Tash Pavelin, GK Jayda Pechova. Impact players: Emma Barrie, Lily-May Catling, Ellie Ervine, Sophie Kelly, Lisa Putt.
Quarter scores (Dragons first): Q1 17-8. Q2 37-18 (20-10). Q3 48-27 (11-9). Q4 58-41 (10-14).
