The dress rehearsal is over
Team Bath Netball’s leadership team of Jess Thirlby and Anna Stembridge have spoken of their mounting excitement at Saturday’s 2016 Vitality Superleague opener against Surrey Storm to be televised by Sky.
“It feels like the dress-rehearsal is over and we are stepping out onto the big stage. This season is going to be so hotly contested, it’s going to be very exciting ”, said Stembridge who is Head Coach of the Carter-Jonas backed Team Bath squad.
Thirlby, Director of Netball, said: “What happens tomorrow won’t define our season, whether we win, lose or draw but there is no doubt that we’re going into the competition off the back of a more cohesive pre-season than ever before.
“We’ve been tight and close and at ease with each other as a squad for a while now. There is a consistency about what we do. Everything about this group suggests that we have had an improved impact on preparation and we will start confident”.
Stembridge has named her 12 for the match-day squad as: Chelsea Lewis, Lenize Potgieter, Asha Francis, Rachel Shaw, Amanda Varey, Mia Ritchie, Jo Vann, Claire Brownie, Alana John, Karla Mostert, Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Sarah Penny. Sam Cook, Jazz Scott and Shaunagh Craig will miss the trip.
Team Bath play Surrey Storm in the live television match which is the show-piece of Super Saturday at the Genting Arena (the NEC) in Birmingham. More than 7000 tickets have been sold for tomorrow’s match. Bath and Surrey play at 8pm with three previous games starting at 2pm so that all eight franchises are in action in one day.
Team Bath, whose suppliers include Surridge and SKINS, will make their first appearance in their home venue of the Univerity of Bath Sports Training Village on February 12th against reigning champions Manchester Thunder followed by another home match on 19th February against Team Northumbria.
There is more information about Team Bath netball here: www.teambath.com/netball.
Tickets are now on sale for all Team Bath home games via: http://www.teambath.com/events/ticketline/
For more information about Team Bath: Caroline Searle in the Team Bath press office on: 07831 755351 or press@matchtight.co.uk
Follow us on twitter: @teambath and @teambathnetball
