Team Bath Netball’s Betsy Creak has continued her inspirational rise through the netball ranks after being named in the Wales squad for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
It’s just three years since Creak, who plays goal-shooter and goal-attack, was playing student and club netball in Bristol before deciding to see if she could progress her career by attending open trials with the Wales national team.
She impressed so much that she was selected to make her senior debut in July 2019 where she caught the eye of then Team Bath Superleague Head Coach Anna Stembridge, who recognised Creak’s raw talent and offered her place in the Blue & Gold squad.
Now, after helping Team Bath win silver and bronze during her first two full Superleague seasons, Creak is set to make her Commonwealth Games debut after being confirmed in a 12-strong Wales squad.
Asha Francis, Team Bath Netball Head Coach, said: “We’d all like to congratulate Betsy on her selection into the Welsh Commonwealth Games squad. It’s always a huge honour to represent your country and I know Betsy will have worked incredibly hard to achieve this. We wish her the best of luck and we’ll be cheering her on!”
Also in the Wales squad is Leila Thomas, who played Superleague for the Blue & Gold in 2019, and former Team Bath Academy players Ella Powell-Davies and Shona O’Dwyer.
Creak is the fourth member of the Haines Watts-sponsored 2022 Team Bath Superleague squad to be selected for Birmingham 2022, joining Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Layla Guscoth (both England) and Phumza Maweni (South Africa). Blue & Gold captain Imogen Allison has also been named as a reserve for England.
A host of former Team Bath players will be gracing the courts at the NEC from 28th July to 8th August too including Stacey Francis-Bayman, Geva Mentor and Eboni Usoro-Brown (England); Fi Toner (Northern Ireland); Claire Maxwell (Scotland); and Khanyisa Chawane, Lenize Potgieter and Zanele Vimbela (South Africa). There are also a number of familiar faces among the coaching teams with England being led by Jess Thirlby and Scotland Head Coach Tamsin Greenway being assisted by Sara Francis-Bayman.
The Commonwealth Games are the next big netball event in England but thoughts are already turning to the 2023 Vitality Superleague season. Visit netball.teambath.com/newsletter to sign up for squad, fixture and ticket updates from the Blue & Gold.
Team Bath Netball is supported by its Principal and Pathway Partner, chartered accountants Haines Watts; Rengen Developments and Bath Building Society, who are overall Team Bath Partners; Centurion Chartered Financial Planners and Ecus Ltd, our environment partner. Team Bath’s suppliers include O’Neills, 2XU, Pulseroll and HALO Hydration.
With thanks to the Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight
