Bath cool Dragons' fire

Reigning champions TeamBath stormed into the Superleague play-offs with a convincing 60-35 win over Celtic Dragons.

England star Cookey in dazzling form

Reigning champions TeamBath stormed into the play-offs of the Co-operative Netball Superleague with a convincing 60-35 win over Celtic Dragons. TeamBath were simply too strong for the Dragons, despite missing several of their first team line up due to injuries, and with England's Pamela Cookey once again in superb shooting form, netting 44/47 and dazzling the opposition with her pace and vision, the result was soon beyond Dragons reach. The champions started at breakneck speed, with the England trio of Sasha Corbin, Jo Binns and Sara Bayman powering through the midcourt to devastating effect. The first quarter went Bath's way 17-5, and with a similar picture in the second, which Bath took 15-8, the result was effectively out of Dragons' reach by half time. With Asha Tett still missing from the TeamBath line up due to a broken finger, coach Jan Crabtree introduced teenager Rosie Allison to GS to gain some vital court time and experience. Dragons refused to be overawed, however, and despite losing the third quarter 18-10, as Cookey netted 16/16, they continued to challenge with Sophie Baxter and Suzy Drane giving their all in centre court. Corbin and Bayman were rested for the final quarter, and Dragons took the chance to apply more pressure on the new TeamBath line up, with player/coach Anna Mayes - herself a former TeamBath player - urging the Welsh side forward once again. With Moseley and Munro forming a tall front line for the visiting side, Dragons kept their focus, but will rue the missed shots which went begging as TeamBath ran out 60-35 winners. TeamBath: GS Delves, GA Cookey, WA Corbin, C Binns, WD Bayman, GD Fletcher, GK Beckford Chambers.
Changes/substitutions: 3rd Q: GS Allison, Bayman to C, WD Guthrie, 4th Q: WA Henry, Binns to C. Celtic Dragons: GS Munro, GA Moseley, WA Trounce, C Baxter, WD Drane, GD Bliss, GK Hale.
Changes/substitutions: 2nd Q: C Mayes, GD Rose, 3rd Q: GS Blucher, Munro to GA, Mayes to WA, Baxter to C, 4th Q: Moseley to GS, Rose to WD, Bliss to GD, GK Keable (rep Hale inj). Shooting statistics:
TeamBath: Allison 6/11, Cookey 44/47, Delves 10/19
Celtic Dragons: Blucher 1 / 2, Moseley 9/14, Munro 23/41. Umpires: Kim Burns and Louise Hiscocks.