Team Bath Netball players and coaches helped England’s U21s record their best Netball World Youth Cup result since 2005 as they won bronze in Botswana.
University of Bath student Imogen Allison, supported by a King Sporting Scholarship, and Jess Shaw both started Sunday’s convincing 70-35 victory over Fiji in the third-placed play-off.
It was the perfect response to Friday’s hard-fought 59-39 semi-final defeat to Australia, the only reverse suffered by England during an encouraging week of performances.
England, who comfortably topped their group and beat Jamaica in the quarter-finals, were led by Team Bath coaches Emily Perry and Denise Ellis. Perry, who is assistant coach to Anna Stembridge and Jess Thirlby in the Superleague, has now been named as an England Netball Futures Coach for the 2017/18 international season.
Fellow Team Bath coach Natalie Peperell was also in Botswana at the helm of a Wales U21 side that finished 13th overall.
Sarah Llewellyn and Izzy Dunsford, who both represented Team Bath in the U21 Netball Performance League last season, helped Wales record a thrilling 44-43 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in their final match of the week.
Team Bath Netball’s ongoing commitment to developing young players has been reflected in the establishment of a new Futures performance pathway covering age groups from U15 to U21.
It will comprise of training academies and hubs across the South West, providing top-class development and playing opportunities for talented youngsters throughout the region.
Teachers and coaches at clubs or academies in the region can find out more about the Team Bath Netball Futures programme by emailing netball@bath.ac.uk or attending a presentation at the University of Exeter from 4.30pm on Monday, July 24.
Lead photo shows England U21 netball squad celebrating their bronze medal including Team Bath’s Imogen Allison (front, second from right) and Jess Shaw (back, third from right).
Report courtesy of Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.
