Bath survive final quarter for victory
A dominant first-half performance set the platform for a 44-39 victory over Wasps on Monday night as Team Bath Netball made it three wins from three at the start of the 2021 Vitality Superleague season.
The Haines Watts-sponsored Blue & Gold, buoyed by their opening weekend successes against Celtic Dragons and Loughborough Lightning, were outstanding against very strong opposition during the opening two quarters as they took a ten-goal lead into the interval.
Wasps, champions in 2017 and 2018, came back strongly in the second half and halved the deficit in the final quarter but Team Bath were able to see out the victory.
Anna Stembridge, Team Bath Superleague head coach, said: “We are pleased to get the win but I’m definitely not fully happy, I think it was a part performance. Tactically we stuck to task in the first half but we deviated from the plan in the last quarter and I don’t feel we dealt particularly well with Wasps’ physicality at times so there is room for improvement.”
Player of the match Sophie Drakeford-lewis, who once again impressed at goal-attack, added: “We knew it was going to be a battle against Wasps, that they would come out hard at us, and we are really pleased with how we brought it to the court during those first three quarters.
“We have definitely got some room for improvement looking at that fourth quarter but I’m really proud of these girls and I can’t wait to see what this team can do come the end of the season.”
With the vastly experienced duo of England internationals Eboni Usoro-brown and Rachel Shaw in the starting seven for the first time this season, Rengen-backed Team Bath took an instant grip on the game as they dominated the opening quarter.
The Blue & Gold combinations were slick right across the court as they opened up a 12-7 lead before really stamping their authority on the game during an outstanding second quarter.
With Serena Guthrie and Shaw providing a constant flow of assists to University of Bath sporting scholar Drakeford-lewis and Kim Borger, Team Bath stretched their advantage to 12 goals at one stage before taking a healthy 25-15 lead into half-time.
Re-energised by a number of changes, Wasps fought back during a well-matched third quarter that finished level at 13-13. They carried that form into the final period and began to chip away at the lead but Team Bath held firm to deservedly secure their third win of the season.
The Blue & Gold now have a chance to recharge after a busy first nine days of the season, with their next matches – against defending champions Manchester Thunder and local rivals Severn Stars – taking place on March 12 and 13 respectively.
Team Bath Netball is the Superleague franchise for the South West of England and has Academy Training Centres in every district – Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. The club is supported by its Principal Partner, chartered accountants Haines Watts, who are also a pathway partner, and by Rengen Developments and Centurion Chartered Financial Planners. O’neills are Team Bath’s official kit supplier.
Wasps starting 7: GS Rachel Dunn, GA Katie Harris, WA Sophie Candappa, C Iona Christian, WD Amy Flanagan, GD Francesca Williams, GK Josie Huckley. Replacements: Ally Housley, Ella Powell-davies, Lily-may Catling, Leah Goss, Gezelle Allison.
Team Bath Netball starting 7: GS Kim Borger, GA Sophie Drakeford-lewis, WA Rachel Shaw, C Serena Guthrie, WD Imogen Allison, GD Tash Pavelin, GK Eboni Usoro-brown. Replacements: Summer Artman, Layla Guscoth, Abi Robson, Jess Shaw, Betsy Creak.
Quarter scores (Wasps first): Q1 7-12; Q2 15-25 (8-13); Q3 26-36 (11-11); Q4 39-44 (13-8).
Player of the match: Sophie Drakeford-lewis.
Bath City’s 2020/21 season is officially over.
The National League declared the North and South divisions null and void, awaiting ratification by the FA Council. It also means there will be no promotion or relegation from the divisions.
A minimum 51 per cent of votes were required for Step 2 (National League North and South) to continue. Although nine National League South clubs from 21 voted to carry on, only seven from 22 in National League North voted the same way meaning Resolution Three was passed, with fixtures stopped immediately.
Club chairman Nick Blofeld told bathcityfc.com: “This is the right decision for the financial security of Bath City and, we believe, for the league.
“We would of course much prefer to be playing football as it is why we exist, and we are very disappointed for our supporters, players, coaches and support staff. But we also know that the finances for the season simply wouldn’t stack up with no attendance at matches and without grants.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us through this very difficult time – we’re proud of the solidarity of the club, supporters, management and players and look forward to a much brighter 2021/22 season – with all our clubs still solvent and competing.
“I would like to pay tribute to Jerry, Jim and the players especially, who competed in the most trying of circumstances and were just beginning to hit their stride when things came to a halt. Now we will focus on planning for next season and beyond.”
The National League will continue with promotion to League Two still available for the league winners and the club that succeeds through the play-offs, but relegation will not be taking place.
Eighteen clubs from National Leagues North and South have signed a statement to National League general manager Mark Ives requesting that the divisions recommence either separately or as one, with Bath City not supporting this proposal.
Manager Jerry Gill claimed it would “undermine the integrity of the competition.”
The club’s football chairman Paul Williams spoke to radiobath. com last Saturday to discuss the National League’s announcement.
“We were pleased the decision was finally made,” he said of the outcome, which was announced ten days before the voting closing date of February 28.
“Clubs were left in the dark for too long about financing. The league must have been aware there was an issue in December.
“If clubs knew about that then, it could have changed things completely. By then clubs had played fewer games, it might have put a different outlook on what clubs want to do for the season.
“Every club in the National League is different – we’re all structured and financed differently, it’s not ‘one case fits all’ unfortunately.
“Usually you only have a month or so before you’re preparing for the next season. There’s now a window of opportunity for the league to sit back and think ‘how do we do things differently?’”
The potential five month break before pre-season recommences also gives the Bath City board to assess the club’s situation in-house.
“First and foremost we need to make sure the club is secure, which we think it is,” said Williams. “We’re in as good a position as we could be considering the circumstances.
“Our income from use of stadium is down about £50,000 this year. You can’t just replace that overnight.
“Hopefully by the end of autumn we are back to some sort of reality and activities can re-commence. The signs appear that we are moving in the right direction.”
Season ticket holders from the 2020/21 season will be contacted in the next week.
Supporters were unable to attend competitive Bath City matches this season. Away games in December at Dorking, Concord, Chelmsford and Chippenham saw home fans allowed to attend, but matches at Twerton Park in the same month remained behind closed doors following instructions from the Bath & North East Somerset Safety Advisory Group.
Following the country’s return to lockdown, January’s FA Trophy defeat to Peterborough Sports and win over Havant & Waterlooville in National League South were played without crowds, with supporters able to watch via a live stream, which was free for season ticket holders.
“We want to see supporters back in football grounds,” added Williams. “We don’t know yet how that might work.
“Some people might think ‘well, I’ve coped without it for a year, do I want to go back?’ That’s an unknown for all clubs.
“We don’t know how easy or difficult it will be to get sponsorship. The whole thing might be like starting again.
“We need to make sure we’re ready to welcome people back in. They’ve been so supportive.
“We’re pleased to have such a loyal fanbase and can’t wait to see them back at the ground again.”