Blue & Gold seek home bounceback against Panthers after Rhinos’ third-quarter charge proves decisive in tight contest
Team Bath Netball will go into this Friday’s home match against Birmingham Panthers looking for an instant response to a second successive narrow NXT Gen League defeat, this time away to Leeds Rhinos.
Sunday’s match at the First Direct Arena was tightly contested throughout, particularly in the first half which saw the opening quarter tied at 15-15 before the visitors edged into a 28-27 lead at the interval.
The advantage should have been greater, though, with Team Bath’s defence turning over huge amount of ball which the attack converted well only for the visitors to struggle from their own centre passes.
A decisive third quarter saw Rhinos find an extra gear which Team Bath were slow to react to and they found themselves trailing 40-35 going into the final 15 minutes. Impact players had a big effect from the bench but Team Bath couldn’t claw back the deficit as they went down 50-44.
The result means Team Bath are level on points in a tightly-packed league table with new franchise Panthers, who visit the Team Bath Arena on Friday 4th April for a match sponsored by Netball South West. Centre-pass is 7pm and a handful of remaining tickets are available to purchase by clicking here.
Meanwhile, Team Bath’s U19s secured a terrific top-three finish in their NPL table, despite being edged out 47-42 by second-placed London Mavericks in a well-contested last league game of the 2024-25 season. Team Bath scored the most goals across the entire NPL competition, including the U17s league.
The U17s, with the majority of the squad being first-year athletes, finished the regular season in a commendable eighth place after a 51-41 defeat to Mavericks.
Team Bath Netball are supported by Bath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are both overall Team Bath Partners, and Bath Recreation Limited, who have recently committed to a three-year partnership. Flyhawk supply Team Bath Netball’s performance clothing and off-court apparel.
Match stats
Team Bath Netball starting combination: GK Scarlett Creasey, GD Lottie Robinson, WD Ellie Ervine, C Phoebe Maslen, WA Alanna Pullen, GA Charlotte Watts, GS Katherine Mansfield. Impact players: Daisy Collett, Sienna Rutherford, Ellen Morgan, Poppy Tydeman, Sophie Siffre.
Leeds Rhinos matchday squad: Abi Conway, Caitlin Sharkey, George Ford, Lilly Harley, Maia Bausor, Meg Allen, Mia Lanigan, Orlaith Rogers, Rose Bridson, Sasha Howard, Sophie Kimpton, Sophie Murray.
Quarter scores (Team Bath second): Q1 15-15; Q2 27-28; Q3 35-40; Q4 44-50.
Most Valuable Player: Phoebe Maslen (pictured top).
