Vitality Netball Superleague | Stars coach believes clinical attacking play key against Bath

Severn Stars’ Head Coach, Sam Bird, believes that whoever is most clinical in attack at this weekend’s fixture will come out on top.

The Stars face Team Bath away on Bank Holiday Monday (May 7, 5pm) in a repeat of the home fixture earlier in the season that Stars lost by just a point in the dying seconds.

And Bird is expecting another tight game at the Team Bath Arena against the fifth-placed side, who finished fourth in last year’s Netball Superleague.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Bath,” she said.

“We lost to them by one goal at home and we expect a close competition again. Both teams have shown excellent full court defence, so whoever is most clinical in attack will be the one to clinch the points.”

This follows Stars’ match against last year’s runners up, Loughborough Lightning, last weekend, which saw them cheered on by an enthusiastic record crowd at the University of Worcester Arena.

Although Stars kept pace with their opponents in two of the quarters, Loughborough, who currently sit third in the table, were able to pull away in the first and final quarters to win 43-58.

But coming after two back-to-back victories on the road, Bird hopes her team, a joint franchise between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire, will return to winning ways once more and continue that impressive away record this weekend.

“The Loughborough game was a little frustrating as we gave up possession too cheaply,” she said. “However, the players and staff have recognised this and have worked hard all week to reduce errors in possession going forwards. We have some crucial games coming up for the Club and Bath is our next chance to show what we can do and how well we can perform.

“This season we have narrowed the difference in our scorelines against the top four teams from last season, in two cases losing to them by just one goal, so hopefully we can use those positives to push on for the rest of the season.”

Photo credit: Rockpool Photography