Netball Super League | Jess Shaw back for Team Bath Netball

WAKEFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Jess Shaw of Team Bath in action during the match between Surrey Storm and Team Bath Netball on day one of round 7 of the Vitality Netball Superleague at Studio 001 on March 21, 2021 in Wakefield, England. (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)

After an injury-curtailed 2021 season, Jess Shaw says she is raring to go and eyeing a happier ending to the 2022 Vitality Superleague campaign after recommitting to Team Bath Netball.

The England Futures player was in fantastic form for the Haines Watts-sponsored Blue & Gold during the early stages of the 2021 season, producing a series of dynamic displays at wing-attack and centre.

Sadly she suffered an injury in training in April, resulting in a double fracture of the talus bone in her ankle and arthroscopic surgery to reconstruct two destroyed lateral ligaments. It meant Shaw had to watch on from the sidelines as Team Bath, also backed by Rengen, fell narrowly short of winning the Superleague title.

She is building back towards full fitness now, though, just in time for the start of pre-season training ahead of a campaign where Shaw and her team-mates are determined to go one better and achieve their championship goal.

“Getting injured halfway through last season was really gutting, so I can’t wait to get back out there in the Blue and Gold, back on the court with the girls and go for that title,” said Shaw, who is in her second spell with Team Bath.

“I was really enjoying the season and happy with how I was playing so it was upsetting when I got the injury, especially missing out on the second half of the season and the final, but hopefully I will be back out there soon.

“We got into the final last season and were so close. We need to look at what didn’t work out in that final and just keep building those connections, I think if we do that we’ll only get stronger. It’s going to be exciting.”

Shaw, younger sister of fellow Team Bath wing-attack Rachel, is also looking forward to playing at the Team Bath Arena again after a season of matches at centralised venues.

“It’s great to have the home matches back,” she said. “Even though we knew we had the fans right behind us last season, it’s always better when you can play in front of them especially the Team Bath fans with the noise they generate. They’ve definitely got us over the line in quite a few close games.”

Shaw is the sixth player to be confirmed in Team Bath’s Superleague squad for the 2022 season joining the experienced duo of Kim Borger and Rachel Shaw, and new faces Lily-May Catling, Molly Hole and Lily Jones.

Tickets for the 2022 Superleague season will go on sale later this month. More information will be available at netball.teambath.com/tickets.

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