Share Sophie Drakeford-Lewis shoots for goal. Image: Ben Lumley Team Bath kept their fans in almost cardiac suspense until the final seconds of Friday’s Vitality Netball Superleague clash with Saracens Mavericks before edging the thriller by a single goal, 50-49, at the Team Bath Arena. With a place in the league’s top four at stake and a long history of classic match-ups between the two sides, the crowd anticipated and received a peach of a game in which Bath came back from three-down with three minutes remaining to win the final quarter and the game. “It was amazing, I am so glad to say that we won the game and that we came out on top”, said Team Bath captain Imogen Allison The ceiling almost burst off the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village as the home side sealed the deal with a Kim Borger score and kept the opposition from replying. South Africa international Phumza Maweni was named Player of the Match. Her turn-overs proved pivotal in the final period. Earlier, it had all been about who could “be more clinical with possession” according to Anna Stembridge, the Team Bath coach after the game. It was also about who could turn that possession into ball to their respective shooters. For much of the match Mavericks had the upper hand into metronomic shooter Britney Clarke and the effervescent crowd-pleaser and former Team Bath star Kadeen Corbin at goal-attack. And @TeamBathNetball have snatched it! 😱 Behind for so long, the hosts have come away with all three points!! 👊 What a dramatic ending! 🔚 pic.twitter.com/xXzQNSIYE5 — Vitality Netball Superleague (@NetballSL) April 29, 2022 Somewhat ironically, therefore, it was a Clarke miss which turned the tide in the final quarter, allowing the Haines Watts and Rengen-backed home side and their ecstatic fans to see a wedge of hope. Not even the width of a silicon chip had earlier separated the sides for much of a match in which the two sides were drawn at 26-26 apiece at half-time. Team Bath won the first and fourth quarters. Neither side could get the upper hand for much of a tense and crowd-quietening third quarter until Mavericks moved ahead 36-40. In a remarkable final quarter marked by some great intercepts from Maweni, Team Bath came back from the cliff-edge to win by 50-49. Asked about the deciding difference Allison said: “I think we just kept calm and kept patient and I think that’s something we struggled with in the middle but in the end when we kept getting interceptions and it really came through”. Report provided by Team Bath Netball You can also watch the highlights from all the games in the VNSL 2022 season HERE. Buy tickets to support Team Bath Netball at their home games here and support Saracens Mavericks at their home ground by buying tickets here. Follow @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Vitality Netball Superleague news. Share Tags: Team Bath Netball London Mavericks