Team Bath Netball narrowly missed out on medals at the 2023 Netball Performance League (NPL) Tournament but can take great pride from their performances in Nottingham.
The Blue & Gold’s U21s, U19s and U17s – supported by Team Bath principal sponsors Haines Watts – all finished fourth in their age-groups after a busy weekend of competition.
Team Bath’s U21s finished runners-up in Group A following excellent victories over London Pulse (37-32), Severn Stars (39-31) and Saracens Mavericks (40-27), with their only defeat coming against table-toppers Manchester Thunder (35-27).
Eventual gold-medallists Loughborough Lightning proved too strong in the semi-finals, winning 46-28, and Team Bath were defeated 41-30 by Central Warriors in the battle for bronze.
The U19 tournament saw Team Bath beat Lightning (29-16) and Surrey Storm (25-22) to take second place on goal difference in a highly-competitive Group A, despite narrow defeats to Thunder (26-23) and Mavericks (30-24).
Thunder went on to edge out Team Bath for a second time in the bronze-medal match, winning 30-25, after the Blue & Gold had lost 37-28 to Warriors in the semi-finals.
Team Bath’s U17s were in fine form in Group A as victories over Leeds Rhinos (37-25), North East Phoenix (38-31) and Stars (35-21) secured second spot behind Thunder, who inflicted the Blue & Gold’s only round-robin defeat (34-26).
They produced another excellent performance in the semi-finals, only losing out 30-28 to eventual champions Lightning, and made Thunder work hard for their 37-33 win in the bronze-medal match.
Natalie Roddy, Team Bath Netball Academy Head Coach, said: “I am so proud of the players and coaches. Our pathway is growing and developing and for all three age groups to make top-four really demonstrates the consistency and depth of our programme. It’s very exciting for the future.
“The NPL tournament is an amazing opportunity for our athletes, an intensive competition with six matches across four days, and the experience of playing so many franchises is such a great development opportunity.”
Team Bath Netball are inviting talented young netballers from the South West of England to trial for their U17, U19 and U21 squads for the 2023-24 campaign, as well as their Futures, Senior and Junior Player Development Programme (PDP) squads.
All of the trials will be taking place at the Team Bath Sports Training Village in September and expressions of interest are now being accepted. Visit https://netball.teambath.com/npl-pdp-trials/ for more details.
Team Bath Netball NPL Tournament 2023 squads
Team Bath Netball U21: Ife Danso, Ellie Ervine, George Ford, Ellie Gabriel, Amaya Herold, Charlotte Jennings-Evans, Lily Jones, Sophie Kelly, Phoebe Maslen, Effie Robinson, Olivia Selby, Poppy Tydeman. Coaches: Natalie Roddy, Anya Le Monnier. Team manager: Vicky Carnall.
Team Bath Netball U19: Ashleigh Browne, Alice Clark, Daisy Harrison, Becca Hinkins, Faye Kinsella, Roisin O’Rourke, Erin Peskin, Lily Rutland, Thea Rhodes, Charlotte Steer, Holly Thompson. Coaches: Holly Duerden, Layla Slade. Team manager: Roni Peck.
Team Bath Netball U17: Izzy Baker, Sascha Dale, Ane De Wet, Mae Haines, Sope Ilelaboye, Sophie Lock, Zoe Maynard, Neve Mortimer, Fechi Ofakor, Olivia Pitt, Alice Potter, Martha Vujicic. Coaches: Chantelle Cox, Brittany Johnson. Team manager: Kelly Browne.
