TeamBath retained their Co-operative Netball Superleague title with a 51-44 victory over Hertfordshire Mavericks in the Grand Final.
Fourth title in five years for defending champions
TeamBath retained their Co-operative Netball Superleague title with a 51-44 victory over Hertfordshire Mavericks in the Grand Final at Nottingham's Trent FM Arena.
Victory earned Bath their fourth Superleague title in five years, but they were made to work every inch of the way by a determined Mavericks outfit.
From the first centre the passing was hard, fast and flat - but also patient and accurate. A turnover in the circle by Amanda Newton (the first of many) moved the challengers for the crown into a two-goal lead, that was extended to five by the quarter whistle. The defending champions were off the pace and allowing Mavericks to boss them about.
TeamBath's Stacey Francis and Eboni Beckford-Chambers swapped bibs and it was a more energised side that began the quarter.
Amanda Newton was finding herself on the wrong end of the whistle and Rosie Allison helped herself to the advantage. A great interception from Jo Binns when Bath had been penalised in the circle turned it back the champions' way and the difference was quickly back to just the one goal.
Just a couple of minutes later and Pamela Cookey sank a shot that took Bath ahead for the first time in the match; 19-18 with 4'50" left to play.
An injury time-out a minute later (Serena Guthrie needing treatment on her finger) halted the flow. Into the final minute and with the scores locked at 21-21, Mavericks missed a chance to go in front with a costly pass - it was TeamBath who netted the ball to win the quarter 14-8 and take a one-goal lead into the second half.
Changes to the Mavericks line-up saw Georgia Schmidt come on at WD, Camilla Buchanan moved into C and Karen Atkinson go to WA. Bath's defensive duo swapped back in their starting seven bibs.
TeamBath's centre was turned over and the pretenders to their throne were level - and after scoring from their centre were back in front.
Goal-for-goal
For the next ten minutes the teams went goal-for-goal, until with two and half minutes to play Mavericks allowed a couple of unforced errors to creep in and Bath took charge from a turnover; 32-31 was bumped up to 35-31 and at the three-quarter whistle the champions led 36-33.
Mavericks head coach Maggie Jackson brought Rose Morgan Smith back for the final quarter with the mid-court resuming the starting formation.
Monique Wood replaced Ella Clark at GA - no changes for Bath. Reshuffling worked well for Mavericks who closed the gap back down to just one goal and then the two teams were locked up again 37-37.
But crucially, for the next three minutes TeamBath dominated possession, converting what they took from their opponents' attacking end, and pressing on to 42-37. Bath were flowing through the court as Mavericks found it harder and harder to find their shooters, as the score was stretched to 48-41 with 2'30" left on the clock.
Mavericks are renowned for their late comebacks but this time the deficit was too great and Bath held on for a seven-goal win.
