Team Bath Netball go top after Strathclyde Sirens victory

Fresh from Sunday’s 50-30 success against Surrey Storm, the Haines Watts-sponsored Blue & Gold certainly did not have it all their own way against an impressive Sirens side who showed the form that has put them just outside the top four this season.

A terrific match saw Team Bath open up eight-goal leads during the second and third quarters but have those advantages cut both times as Sirens fought relentlessly, and it wasn’t until the closing stages that they were finally able to put the game to rest.

A breathless opening quarter saw both sides apply tremendous defensive pressure, with Towera Vinkhumbo excelling for Sirens and Eboni Usoro-Brown, Layla Guscoth and Guthrie producing several flying interceptions for Rengen-backed Team Bath.

It went goal for goal during the early exchanges but the Blue & Gold were able to edge into a mini lead midway through a thoroughly-entertaining quarter and went on to take an 11-8 advantage into the second period.

A double-tap interception from Imogen Allison within a minute of the restart set the tone as Team Bath imposed themselves on the game, quickly pulling away into an 18-10 lead.

Guthrie was pulling the strings at centre as she and Rachel Shaw provided slick, accurate feeds into the attacking duo of Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Kim Borger.

Sirens have been in excellent form this season, though, and began to disrupt Team Bath’s flow as the quarter progressed. Strong defending forced errors which they capitalised on well to cut the gap to just 22-18, with goal shooter Emma Barrie calmly netting on the buzzer.

Niamh McCall came on at goal attack for Sirens at the start of a third period that followed a similar pattern to the second, with Team Bath regaining their fluidity in attack to once again open up an eight-goal lead only for their stubborn opponents to reel them back during the closing stages.

The advantage was just 34-29 going into a fourth quarter that saw Tash Pavelin come on at goal defence for Team Bath, who were finally able to both build and maintain some clear ground between themselves and their opponents. They eventually came away with an 11-goal victory to move back to the league summit, three points clear of Loughborough Lightning.

Rengen Player of the Match: Serena Guthrie.

Match report from Team Bath Netball.

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