Match Report

Squad give TeamBath win

TeamBath shuffled the pack in their latest Co-operative Netball Superleague clash playing all bar one of their 12 against Glasgow Wildcats at the University of Bath Sports Training Village. The visitors were up against it from the start as their hosts opened clinically, marching quickly into a 5-1 lead. The move of the quarter came at 3-0 when home-side wing attack Sacha Corbin soared into the air, grabbed the ball full flight while turning and then looping it into the circle for captain Pamela Cookey to score.

Glasgow's starting mid-court had an under-21 look to it with Jayne Duncan, Claire Brownie and Steph Docherty are familiar with each others play but were lining up in this formation for a rare Superleague outing. They took time to gel but after falling four goals behind the defence sharpened up to turn-over the ball and get the match back to 6-4. Bath pushed on to close out the rest of the quarter. Stats from the Wildcats show they made 20 turnovers in the quarter but netted just the 4 goals in total.

A merry go round of changes for both sides marked all three breaks in play, Bath’s Rosie Allison came on for Asha Tett in the second quarter and grabbed 100% of her shots. Wildcats were getting more attempts at goal and a run in the final two minutes of the quarter cut the deficit to 13-29 at the half-time with the second quarter going to Bath by 15-9.

At the start of the second half Denise Holland gave Huia Paul her Superleague debut at centre; the New Zealander not just a Wildcat but also a member of the Scotland squad for the test matches against Australia, qualifying on residency grounds. The change, one of three for Glasgow’s mid-court line-up worked well and in one eight-minute spell netted six goals for just two and they won the penultimate quarter by a goal 10-9, as the home side rested captain Cookey and Corbin.

The final 15 minutes prompted a surge by TeamBath with 20 goals scored and a good run out from the whole squad. Glasgow were outclassed in the last part of the match as their hosts raised their game.

“It was good to get the win tonight and great that everyone got time on court”, said home defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers. “We made some silly errors, though, which we will need to work on before the next three matches against top sides”.

“I’m pleased with the match – albeit a feisty one”, said Glasgow Wildcat coach Denise Holland at the final whistle. “It wasn’t just winning the third quarter, we kept them under 60 goals, which was a target of ours and we scored more than 30 which was another target."

She added "Superb grit and determination was shown by all.... We went on to take the third quarter from Bath 10-9 this was especially rewarding and shows huge progress."

Match Umpires

Ian Fuller, Jo Kelly and Emma Pike