Posted 6th Dec 2022

Plenty of great netball for big crowd to enjoy as Team Bath make “positive” start to pre-season at entertaining home tri-tournament

Team Bath Netball Head Coach Asha Francis says her new-look Super League squad will take plenty of positives from their first pre-season run-out in Saturday’s home tri-tournament.

An 800-strong crowd enjoyed three well-contested games at the Team Bath Arena as the Haines Watts-sponsored Blue & Gold hosted fellow Super League clubs London Pulse and Saracens Mavericks.

It was Pulse who took home the Lyn Gunson Trophy after beating Team Bath 36-26 and Mavericks 40-39, with the hosts finishing runners-up after winning 46-35 in the last round-robin game.

Lily-May Catling in action for Team Bath Netball. PICTURES: Mark Harris Photography

All 12 members of the Team Bath match-day squad got significant court time, with England prodigy Jayda Pechová, Wales Commonwealth Games star Bethan Dyke and New Zealander Ali Wilshier all wearing the Blue & Gold for the first time.

Kirsty Harris on the ball for Team Bath

Academy graduate Annie O’Rourke made her first senior appearance and also in the squad were returning duo Summer Artman and Kadeen Corbin, Imogen Allison, Lily-May Catling, Betsy Creak, Kirsty Harris, Hannah Passmore and Tash Pavelin.

Francis said: “We are really pleased with what we got out of the weekend. It was brilliant to have so many fans turn out, it made for a great event and an opportunity not only for spectators to enjoy some pre-Christmas netball but also for the players to practice in front of the crowds and feel the atmosphere of the Arena.

“It’s always great to test what you’ve practiced so far and gauge how that comes out in a game. Everyone got to start a game and it was good to see how well we coped physically, how the players could adapt and change without the use of subs.

“Overall there were lots of positives and lots of areas to keep pushing on, which is exciting as we go into this next block of training.”

Team Bath have one more closed-door friendly before Christmas and will then face Severn Stars, Surrey Storm, Manchester Thunder and Knights Men during January before the 2023 Super League season begins against Loughborough Lightning at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday 11th February.

There are eight home games at the Team Bath Arena during the 2023 season, starting against Strathclyde Sirens on Friday 24th February (7.30pm centre-pass). Season and match-day tickets are on sale now, visit netball.teambath.com/tickets to find out more.

Team Bath Netball is supported by its Principal and Pathway Partner, chartered accountants Haines WattsBath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are overall Team Bath Partners; Centurion Chartered Financial PlannersEcus Ltd, our environment partner; and PDS Coaching, who provide performance mentoring. Team Bath’s suppliers include O’Neills2XU and Pulseroll.

Pictures: Mark Harris Photography on Instagram.

Other news articles

Team Bath Netball player Alanna Pullen on the Team Bath Arena court, holding the ball above her head as she prepares to pass. She is being watched by a crowd of spectators and her team-mates on the bench.
Team Bath Netball NXT Gen star Alanna Pullen joining Birmingham Panthers for 2026 Super League season

Team Bath Netball NXT Gen League star Alanna Pullen has followed up her Netball World Youth Cup selection by being awarded a 2026 Super League contract by Birmingham Panthers. It comes after a standout season in Blue & Gold...

Read More
A composite image of Team Bath Netball U19 players (from left) Neve Marsden, Ane De Wet and Jess Hollingbery. They are wearing Blue & Gold kit and have end-of-season award medals around their necks.
Team Bath Netball trio selected in Roses Academy U19 long squad for 2025-26 season

A trio of talented Team Bath Netball Player Pathway athletes have been selected into the England Netball Roses Academy U19 long squad for the 2025-26 season. Versatile attacking player Ané De Wet, the national U19 Player of the Season...

Read More
Profile pictures of netballers Alanna Pullen and Sophie Kelly, with an AI-generated England flag behind them.
England call on Team Bath’s Alanna Pullen and scholar Sophie Kelly for 2025 Netball World Youth Cup

Team Bath Netball’s Alanna Pullen and University of Bath sporting scholar Sophie Kelly have been named in the England U21 squad for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, taking place in Gibraltar from 19-28 September. Trendell Sporting Scholar Jayda...

Read More
Team Bath Netball Sponsors
Partners and Suppliers