Share Imogen Allison battles it out with Jade Clarke. Image: Morgan Harlow Team Bath missed the chance to return to the top four, losing out by ten goals to Leeds Rhinos in the Spring Showdown at Resorts World Arena, Birmingham After three successive wins, Team Bath came into the Spring Showdown in good form and following their win against London Pulse, Anna Stembridge decided to name an unchanged line up. Leeds Rhinos made just one change their seven, bringing Rebekah Airey for Tuaine Keenan. Playing their second game of the weekend, Rhinos started quickest and took an early advantage through some good work between Brie Grierson and Sigi Burger. Bath fought back and Imogen Allison and Kirsty Harris showed quick hands around the shooting circle to reduce the deficit. At the back of the court, Phumza Maweni and Layla Guscoth pulled off a couple of fine intercepts each as Rhinos held a four-goal lead after the first quarter. Jess Shaw came into centre as Allison moved into wing defence in place of Tash Pavelin as Bath made some alterations going into the next 15 minutes. Both sets of defence ends continued to thwart each other’s advances as Guscoth made a brilliant flying intercept before Oyesola produced one of her own. Meanwhile in the centre of the court, Alisson was locked in a gruelling battle with Superleague stalwart Jade Clarke as the pair battled it out for dominance around the centre circle. Into the second half and after a level last quarter, it was all to play for. Betsy Creak came into bolster the attack ahead of Borger and was joined by Rachel Shaw as she replaced Harris. In the middle of the court, Vicki Oyesola, Lydia Walker and Jade Clarke put pressure on the blue and gold and this coupled with sharp shooting from Sigi Burger helped Rhinos extended their lead to eight going into the last 15 minutes. Layla Guscoth continued to show why she is near the top of the chart for turnovers as she took her tally to seven for the game in the final quarter. Despite great defensive work through the court, the team were unable to find a way to cut the Rhinos advantage as Gilbert Player of the Match, Airey stopped the hosts making any inroads. Match report provided by Leeds Rhinos Starting Sevens Team Bath: (GK) Airey, (GD) Oyesola, (WD) Magee, (C) Clarke, (WA) Hall, (GA) Grierson, (GS) Burger Leeds Rhinos: (GK) Maweni, (GD) Guscoth, (WD) Pavelin, (C) Allison, (WA) Harris, (GA) Drakeford-Lewis, (GS) Borger Gilbert Player of the Match – Rebekah Airey, Leeds Rhinos You can also watch the highlights from all the games in the VNSL 2022 season HERE. Buy tickets to support Team Bath at their home games here and support Leeds Rhinos at their home ground by buying tickets here. Follow @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Vitality Netball Superleague news. Share Tags: Team Bath Netball Leeds Rhinos