Leeds Carnegie Fall To TeamBath

08 February 2010

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"What a fantastic game of netball!" Leeds co-coach Marion Lofthouse voicing the thoughts of the two-hundred odd fans at the Co-operative Netball Superleague clash between Leeds Carnegie and TeamBath.

The two teams met at Leeds Met University with different objectives which ensured a highly entertaining match, closely fought for three-quarters of the game. 

TeamBath were in unfamiliar territory coming to the contest on the back of a defeat to Surrey Storm; their first loss in nearly 23 months. Leeds were after a bit of credit for some excellent but un-rewarded performances in recent games

A familiar Leeds starting seven took to the court and it was a good battle against a less regular TeamBath side Rosie Allison (GS) and Lindsay Keable (GK) came out to in their starting line-up for the first time in Superleague.

It was a good battle with both sides having 16 attempts at goal in the first 15 minutes the defending champions netting one more than Leeds at the quarter whistle.

It was flipped around at the end of the half as Leeds scored 10 from 13 Bath 10 from 14 but the visiting side’s coach Jess Garland was keen for her squad to address certain issues on court "we had specific targets after our match against Surrey."

Carnegie chose to stay with the same seven throughout the match, and it is a side that are beginning to gel together. Various combinations were being tried and tested by Bath who saved the best till last.

The final quarter was a change of gear for TeamBath who had been given a thorough working out by Leeds, but in the final 15 minutes put together some immaculate and inspirations passages of play and cracking 1-2s especially between skipper Eboni Beckford-Chambers and Stacey Francis.  It was a twenty-goal margin at the final whistle

After the game TeamBath coach Jess Garland admitted the game was just what her squad needed: "Leeds really tested us and kept with us for the first three quarters of the game.  We’re really pleased with some of the things we made improvements on."

"We are looking to have a more clinical performance against Glasgow on Friday night."
Marion Lofthouse thoroughly enjoyed the match: "Both teams exhibited great skill and commitment.  Bath dominated the last quarter showing the experience required to win the game.  The Leeds players will learn from this match."

She was And the Leeds co-coach felt praise was also due to the match officials:"Both umpires allowed the players to contest the ball and this contributed to a great display of netball."

Q1: 13-14
Q2: 23 -24 (10-10)
Q3: 34-37 (11-13)
Q4: 42-62 (8-25)

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