Team Bath Netball 61 – 54 Leeds Rhinos

The Blue and Gold outfit recovered from a seven-goal deficit during the first quarter to dominate the next 15 minutes and head into half-time 31-25 up. 

A hectic last quarter kept Team Bath on their toes but the re-introduction of Sophie Kelly in goal attack had the desired effect as her flurry of goals in the final 15 minutes paved the way for a second victory this season. 

Leeds Rhinos, searching for their first win this campaign, found themselves 14-7 up in a dominant spell in the first 10 minutes, with Team Bath head coach Asha Francis reacting by bringing on Kelly. 

It proved an inspired switch as, coupled with two superb blocks from Jayda Pechova on the impressive Ellie Bird, Kelly’s goal seconds before the buzzer cut Rhinos’ lead to three. 

Bird made it 17-13 soon after the first centre of the second quarter before the Rhinos were rocked when centre Caroline O’Hanlon was forced off with a shoulder injury, and the positional changes appeared to spoil the visitors’ momentum. 

Kelly made it 21-21 to level the score for the first time since the fifth minute, before Team Bath were dealt an injury blow themselves when wing attack Ali Wilshier landed awkwardly following a collision with Leeds Rhinos’ debutant Jemma Donoghue to see Kirsty Harris to enter the fray. 

Team Bath asserted control as they moved 29-23 up, their biggest lead of the match thus far, spurred on by a 1,000+ crowd at the Team Bath Arena.  

Imogen Allison’s inventiveness raised the decibels further, the highlight of which was a tremendous flick back onto court for Kelly to make it 30-24. 

The spectators were on their feet seconds before the buzzer when Betsy Creak hooked the ball home while falling out of court to make it 31-25 at half-time, rounding off the first half with the goal of the game and capping off a fine spell from the hosts, winning the quarter 18-10. 

The Rhinos had the upper hand in the third quarter to pull it back to 37-34 after neat work around the centre concluded with Brie Grierson locating Paige Reed to loop home. 

A costly error from the final centre pass of the quarter saw Creak take advantage before a huge jump and deflection from Pechova on Bird enabled the Blue and Gold to head into the final 15 with a five-goal lead. 

Defences had their work cut out in a quick trade of goals before sloppiness from the Rhinos cost them dearly. 

Bird was left frustrated with wayward final passes whereas Team Bath were more clinical, the re-introduced Kelly rounding off a fine move after Creak athletically kept the ball in. 

Each goal back from the visitors silenced the crowd, but after both Rhinos’ defenders were penalised, Kelly capitalised to make it 60-53 before rounding off the scoring in the last minute to seal a deserved win and allow Team Bath to leapfrog Celtic Dragons and move up to eighth. 

Report supplied by Team Bath Netball.

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