Netball Super League | Stars aiming to secure first away points

Severn Stars’ Head Coach, Sam Bird, says her team wants to prove they can perform away from home, as the players prepare to face Team Bath on the road.

Stars are looking to follow up their impressive victory against Celtic Dragons in their first home game of the season with a win away in Bath on Friday (February 1, 7.30pm).

Despite some close results in the first two rounds of the Vitality Netball Superleague away from home, Stars are still chasing their first away points of the season.

“The win last week was well deserved for the squad, but we do want to show that we can perform away from home as well,” said Bird. “We have had a good hard week at training and the connections between the players are improving each week.”

Bird is anticipating a significant challenge at the Team Bath Arena against last year’s fourth placed team, who have two wins under their belts already this season, but lost on Monday to Surrey Storm.

“We are looking forward to playing Bath,” she said. “They had a surprise loss to Surrey Storm on Monday night so they will be looking to rectify those errors against us.”

Stars were inspired to victory by Captain Maryka Holtzhausen’s return from international duty when they took on Welsh side Dragons last week.

Extending their lead in every quarter of the match, the team, which is a joint franchise between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire, finished the tie 57-40 winners.

“It was great to get a home win, but there is still more to improve on,” said Bird. “The table shows that everyone has now won a match and that there are no easy games in the Superleague this year. I was pleased with the starting seven, but also the changes that we made worked well. In our third season I think we finally have a strong bench with which to make tactical changes.”

For tickets to Stars’ next home game, at the University of Worcester Arena, against Manchester Thunder on February 9 (6pm), visit www.ticketline.co.uk/netball-superleague-severn-stars#bio.

Tickets are also now available for the Vitality Netball Superleague Big Easter Weekend!

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