Team Bath seeking more consistency

The Blue & Gold won each of the first three quarters at the Copper Box Arena as they built up a healthy 54-42 advantage but then allowed league newcomers Pulse back into the contest in the last 15 minutes and saw their final winning margin cut to 64-60.

Head Coach Jess Thirlby said she was pleased to get the win but is looking for improvements ahead of Saturday’s Severn derby at the Team Bath Arena against Welsh franchise Celtic Dragons (5pm centre-pass).

“We anticipated a highly-contested match against Pulse, who have stayed with quality sides and contested for much of their games despite their current league position,” she said. “No team can be underestimated and we were pleased with showing some grit and ‘finding a way’ last night as its tough to go on the road and play away from home.

“We had some great passages of play and some of our best stats for the season in terms of chances converted and few errors made. Games like these are excellent preparation for the tough tests to come and ultimately we want to be put under pressure so we learn how to thrive on it as we continue to work hard to secure a top-four finish.

“It was great to have Serena Guthrie back on court and Mia Ritchie was brilliant when she came off the bench. Leila Thomas contributed positively in defence and we were really pleased to get Abi Robson out on court. She has been one of our most consistent performers in training and it was great to be able to reward that.”

Both Thomas and Robson are U21 players and another young Blue & Gold talent to catch the eye was University of Bath student Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, who was named as Player of the Match for the second successive game.

VNSL Head Coach Anna Stembridge said: “Sophie has been sublime in the last few weeks. She is building a real connection with Rachel Shaw and Kim Commane in attack but her defending from the front and all-round contribution has been outstanding. She is quiet and unassuming off the court but is developing into a real leader on it.”

MJ Church Ambassador Drakeford-Lewis, who is also supported by a Bill Whiteley Scholarship, added: “Credit to the players around me, they fill me with confidence. The Superleague is incredibly tight this season but we are building momentum and we need to keep that up in the next few home games.”