Duo get Games call-up

TEAM England have unveiled their netball squad for April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia, with Loughborough Lightning Netball duo Beth Cobden and Ella Clark making the grade.

Cobden has been a mainstay in the Lightning and England side for the last 12 months, the wing defence playing a key role in Lightning’s sensational 2017.

After an impressive showing at the recent Quad Series for the Red Roses, Cobden kick-started her Superleague season with a win over UWS Sirens, a game in which she was awarded player of the match.

Cobden said: ““I was just at home in my room when I got the email and I had a little scream to myself! My parents were on holiday but I rang my mum straight away and she was really pleased and just really excited for me. It’s a dream come true.

“It’s really exciting that we’re going to be in the athlete’s village and meet people from other sports; there will be so much going on and I’m sure it’ll be a great experience.”

On Team England’s aims Cobden added: “We’re definitely aiming to win gold. We’re really going from strength to strength, we’ve got a great squad which is probably one of the best we’ve ever had, and there’s so much belief within the team that we can win.”

For Clark it has been a race against time to be fit for Gold Coast, having ruptured knee ligaments at the tail end of last season’s Superleague campaign, ruling her out of the Grand Final. Having decided to swap basketball for netball on a full-time basis, selection as a travelling reserve is just reward for the hours of rehab she has put in over the last six months.

Now back in action, having played for England A last month and playing a key role in Lightning’s opening day victory in the Superleague, Clark will look to be back at her very best by April, should a call up into the final 12 come her way.