We missed a massive opportunity, says Garland
Team Bath’s young netballers have been urged to show more self-belief after going down 66-45 to Surrey Storm in the Fiat Netball Superleague at the Sports Training Village.
Tonight’s (Friday) opening phase two game was strangely reminiscent of when the two teams met in phase one last month, with Storm racing away to an early advantage, but Team Bath steadying the ship and clawing their way into the game.
On this occasion the experienced Storm side were 13 goals up at the end of the opening quarter.
“I think we’ve missed a massive opportunity tonight, we should never have let the margin be that big,” said Team Bath head coach Jess Garland.
“If we’d done the basics to a high standard and made fewer unforced errors, the result could have been very different,” she added. “Everyone starts phase two with a clean slate, but we didn’t start the game like contenders today. We underestimated ourselves tonight and we need to shake that mentality off quickly.
“Sam (Cook) and Gemma (Fletcher) made a massive step forward against an attack deemed to be one of the best in the league, and we can take a lot from that,” she added.
The visitors started off like a house on fire and opened up a five-goal lead before Kadeen Corbin got Team Bath on the scoreboard.
Corbin linked well with Mia Ritchie throughout the 60 minutes – rekindling the partnership that worked so effectively as the University of Bath team were crowned British Universities champions on Wednesday.
Fletcher and Cook produced some good interceptions, but the former Team Bath partnership of Rachel Dunn and Pamela Cookey proved as consistent as ever in front of goal and Storm led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Corbin got Team Bath back in the game early in the second quarter. Fuelled by some fantastic feeds from Ritchie and Amanda Trounce, she helped to reduce the deficit, but Storm still shaded the quarter by a single goal.
Garland shuffled her pack in quarter three bringing Kat Hayes on at goal shooter and moving captain Asha Francis out to wing attack. Team Bath’s best move of the quarter saw Ritchie pick out Corbin as she ghosted behind the Storm defence to score. Once again, quarter three went to the visitors, but only by a single goal.
Storm freshened things up in the final quarter and extended their lead to run out 66-45 winners, despite some excellent interceptions by young Cook.
Team Bath return to action with a trip to Northern Thunder on Saturday 24 March followed by a home game against Hertfordshire Mavericks on Thursday 29 March.
You can buy tickets for Team Bath’s phase two home fixtures by going to our Ticketline at http://teambath.ticketline.co.uk/ or by calling or call the Ticketline on 0844 888 4412. For group bookings please call 0844 888 4420.
Team Bath v Surrey Storm match facts
Quarter scores (Team Bath first): Q1: 5-18 , Q2 14-15 (19 -33), Q3: 13-14 (32-47), Q4 13-19 (45-66)
Starting sevens
Team Bath: GS Kadeen Corbin, GA Asha Francis (capt), WA Amanda Trounce, C Mia Ritchie, WD Becky Watkins, GD Gemma Fletcher, GK Sam Cook. Q2 changes: Francis to GS, Corbin to GA, Scarlett Williams to WD. Q3 changes: Kat Hayes to GS, Francis to WA.
Bench: Chantelle Wopara, Kate McGinley, Millie Grey.
Surrey Storm:
Team Bath: GS Rachel Dunn, GA Pamela Cookey , WA Tamsin Greenway, C Becky Trippick (capt) , WD Natalie Seaton, GD Katy Holland, GK Hannah Reid. Q4 changes: Kat Ainsworth to C, Stef Bello to WD.
Bench: Adele Modeste, Rhianne McHale, Lorraine Betsy.
Shooting stats:
Team Bath:
Kadeen Corbin: 33 from 44 (75 per cent)
Asha Francis: 4 from 7 (57 per cent)
Kat Hayes: 8 from 11 (72 per cent)
Surrey Storm:
Rachel Dunn: 46 from 55 – 84 per cent
Pamela Cookey: 20 from 24 – 83 per cent
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518 or by email at press@matchtight.co.uk
You can also find out more about Team Bath at www.teambath.com , follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teambath or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/teambath
The University of Bath is The Sunday Times University of the Year 2011/12.
