Its been an exciting and celebratory season so far for Bath University Netball Club. Many teams are enjoying decent cup runs and attractive league positions. Last week saw the 1st team knocked out at the quarter final stage of the BUCS cup away to Loughborough, a close encounter and enjoyable game for the team, that could have easily had a different outcome.
The top two squads have enjoyed an influx of Fresher’s after many players graduating or leaving for placement at the end of last season. Both squads have made significant strides in a largely new outfit, one reason being the exceptional coaching of Jess Garland and Emily Flavell, the Bath super league and Junior super league coach and deputy coach respectively.
In the last 16 the 1st team triumphed over Nottingham 1sts 71 21 but came unstuck away at Loughborough in the quarter finals. Loughborough’s sporting credentials are well known, with a Netball centre of excellence, like Bath, an away draw was going to be a tough challenge to conquer. The third quarter was the most successful for Bath with some impressive shooting stats. Through out most the game Loughborough’s circle defence were disruptive and effective. This proved the difference. An exceptional achievement for GK Leanne Studley and GA/GS Sam Rightman was their selection for the English Universities squad, they attended their first training camp for the squad at the weekend.
Bath 2nds progressed into the quarter finals, courtesy of a 50 31 victory over Brunel 2nds in the STV on February 17th. They now face Chcihester away on February 24th. The 2nd team have made steady progressive through out the season. After two losses from two games at the start of the season, with a heavy 40 goal defeat away at Exeter the team has lost only one game since. A defining game came when playing away against Gloucester 1sts amongst a hostile crowd who cheered every Bath mistake and booed every goal. Having lost to Gloucester at home on the opening game of the season it was going to be a testing encounter. The team were trailing by a few goals at half time, drawing at three quarter time. There was much tension entering the final quarter, with a reluctant home crowd, but Bath emerged five goals winners on the final whistle.
The 3rd team were unlucky to exit the BUCS cup by a 35 29 defeat away at Marjons. Another demonstration that home draws can be so crucial to progression in the cup competitions. They currently sit 4th in their league, which they aim to consolidate to avoid relegation play offs. They’re training hard for their next encounter away at table toppers Bournemouth 1sts.
Its been a flourishing season for the 4th team who have won all but one league game this season. They currently sit second in the league on goal difference behind Exeter 3rds. A close encounter between the top two saw a bath 34-32 victory on the 10th February. Bath 4ths showed their ability to perform under pressure, which may prove decisive for the end of the season, losing throughout the game until the last five minutes, when they emerged 2 goal winners. Other victories saw Bath piling the goals on the scoreboard 77 13 and 71 30 wins over Marjons and UWE.
Whilst the 4ths are aiming to be promoted from this league the 5ths are fighting to stay up. Last Season’s champions of Western conference 5A, saw the 5th team promoted into Western Conference 4A: the same league as the 4ths! So there’s been some interesting all bath matches, both times 4ths coming out on top... This season has been a challenge for the 5th team, who currently sit in 5th position in the league, this may require a relegation playoff at the end of the season . Its likely to come down to the wire, in the relegation dog fight on 17th February the team traveled away to Exeter’s 4’s losing by a mere 4 goals, Exeter now sit one position above them, out of the relegation zone. Like the 5ths, its going to be a nail bitter for all teams here until the end of the season.
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