Blue & Gold stars help Commonwealth champs England to homecoming victory over Uganda

Team Bath Netball’s Serena Guthrie captained England to an exciting 50-46 victory over Uganda in the Roses’ first fixture on home soil since being crowned as Commonwealth champions.

Superstar centre Guthrie, who was named as player of the match, was joined in the starting seven by Blue & Gold team-mate and fellow gold-medallist Eboni Usoro-Brown (nee Beckford-Chambers) for the opening fixture of the Vitality Netball International Series.

The Roses, who also included former Team Bath players Layla Guscoth and Rachel Dunn, led 38-31 going into the final quarter before Uganda rallied superbly to level at 43-43.

Roared on by a big crowd at the Liverpool Echo Arena, England regained the initiative and went on to record victory by four goals. The two remaining matches in the series both take place at London’s Copper Box Arena, on Friday and Sunday.

Guthrie, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “We knew it was going to be an exciting game and the crowd were incredible tonight. It’s a little taster of what we can expect at the World Cup next year.”

The match was preceded by an A international between Scotland and an England side that featured Blue & Gold players Summer Artman and MJ Church ambassador Sophie Drakeford-Lewis. The Roses ran out impressive 63-33 winners.

Want to watch England stars in action for Team Bath Netball in 2019? Click here to purchase Superleague tickets.

PICTURE CREDIT: Eliza Morgan (Insta: @elizahopephoto; Twitter: @elizahopephoto; Facebook: hope photography)