Team Bath Netball maintain unbeaten record with win over Manchester Thunder

Following a fortnight break from action, Team Bath won every quarter to record a 60-35 win over Thunder on Friday evening to make it four wins out of four in the 2021 season.

Reigning champions Thunder were stunned by an impressive onslaught from a Team Bath side who were missing their Head Coach Anna Stembridge who is isolating after a family member developed potential COVID-like symptoms.

Jo Vann took charge of the side in Wakefield and said: "It's a strong message for sure but we are also conscious there's some more big games coming our way. It's important we take it one at a time. Absolutely delighted with the performance and the scoreline.

"Excellent efforts in defence, the turnovers created, the ball we won across the court, really proud of the performance, and the whole wider squad who contributed vocally out there."

Rengen Player of the Match Kim Borger was delighted with the victory and said not having their Head Coach in the building was not a significant disadvantage.

"Anna being Anna she planned for this, months and months ago so we had that plan in the mix. We still had her here, on the iPad at quarter time and the half time huddle, very much present! We didn't let it affect us on the court," she said.

Bath started with Borger alongside the in-form Sophie Drakeford-Lewis - a duo who when on to record a 100% shooting stat in the match. Rachel Shaw was favoured at wing attack and Eboni Usoro Brown started at goal keeper.

It was Thunder who started the brighter and raced into an early lead. They led throughout the opening exchanges but seemed to lose some rhythm when Emma Dovey needed to be replaced in the first quarter after an injury.

This required a re-shaping of their line-up and Team Bath were able to capitalise. Inspired by Borger who was very impressive in 'owning' the baseline and grateful for a key turnover from Guscoth they draw level. Team Bath then went on to hold a narrow 12-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

In the second 12 minute period, Thunder grew increasingly frustrated as they had no answer to Team Bath’s guile and slickness in all areas of the court.

Borger, together with Drakeford-Lewis, worked wonders in the shooting circle as Team Bath scored nine times without reply. With Thunder getting their only joy from wide areas, Team Bath did real damage and led 28-19 at half time.

The third quarter was always going to be crucial, but if Team Bath expected a reinvigorated and refreshed Manchester Thunder side after the break, it didn’t happen as again they dominated.

Guscoth was brilliant at times, whilst Drakeford-Lewis often found herself uncontested in the first phase of play allowing Team Bath to continue to pile on the pressure.

Off the ball, Imogen Allison was tireless at wing-defence in neutralising her opponent and Guthrie dominated at centre.

Again it was a 16-7 quarter victory for Team Bath who led 44-26 at the end of the third. In the final quarter, Betsy Creak replaced Borger at shooter and Jess Shaw replaced her sibling at wing attack whilst Robson replaced Allison at wing defence.

It was the same story in the final twelve minutes as Team Bath played exceptional netball. Manchester Thunder once again lost a player through injury as Rebekah Airey limped off, but they continued to fall short in the key battles.

Team Bath ran out 60-35 winners in the end against an increasingly dispirited opposition who will now look to regroup ahead of their fixture against Wasps on Saturday.

"We didn’t play like Thunder tonight," said Thunder coach Karen Greig. "But full kudos to Bath. They put on a performance tonight."

Vann, Team Bath coach on the night in Stembridge’s absence, backed by Natalie Roddy, said: "It’s testament to Anna’s excellent coaching that the team could play like that. She empowered us to go out and do that."

The night certainly belonged to Team Bath, who are next back in action on Saturday afternoon against Severn Stars, who had beaten Surrey Storm in their first victory of the season, earlier in the day.

Rengen Player of the Match Kim Borger, who scored 39 goals from 39 shots, knows that this evening’s result has sent a strong message to their title rivals.

"We've got a target on our back now. I say bring it on. We're up for the challenge, as you can see tonight, a 25-point win in a top of the table clash. Expect exciting things from us," she said.

Rengen Player of the Match: Kim Borger (Team Bath Netball).

Match report from Team Bath Netball.

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