Team Bath Push Lightning

Team Bath Netball put up a fantastic fight in front of an 800-strong crowd for their latest home match against Loughborough Lightning.

The game saw Team Bath restricting the NXT Gen League leaders to their smallest winning margin of the season.

The visitors held a narrow lead throughout the match but were never allowed to push the score out as excellent shooting from Lucy Herdman and key turnovers from MVP Sophie Siffre kept the Blue & Gold firmly in contention.

It was a fantastic return to action for Bristolian Siffre, who has missed the past five months through injury but played the full 60 minutes at GK. Mid-courter Ellie Ervine also returned after six weeks out and defender Orla Farrelly once again stepped up from the NXT Gen Development Squad to fine effect following her stellar debut against LexisNexis Dragons the previous week.

Team Bath dealt well with Lightning’s physicality and defensive pressure, and just two goals separated the sides at half-time. With the hosts converting their highest number of Super Shot attempts to date, the second half proved equally competitive but Lightning eventually saw out a 65-59 victory.

That meant Team Bath fell just shy of picking up a bonus point for being within five goals but there were once again plenty of positives to take from the performance.

Just a handful of tickets remain on sale for Team Bath’s first Saturday home fixture of the season, this weekend’s meeting with a London Mavericks outfit featuring former Blue & Gold stars Scarlett Creasey, Charlotte Watts and Hannah Passmore. Centre-pass is 3pm.

There are just two more chances to be part of the Team Bath Arena crowd after this weekend, against Leeds Rhinos on Friday 17th April (7pm) and LexisNexis Dragons on Saturday 16th May (3pm). Tickets, priced from £12 to £20, are available to purchase at netball.teambath.com/tickets.

Team Bath Netball are supported by Bath Building Society and Rengen Developments, who are both overall Team Bath Partners, and Bath Recreation Limited. Flyhawk supply Team Bath Netball’s performance clothing and off-court apparel.

IMG: Luke Minett.