Berri Neil has already achieved significant success in her short career largely due to her outstanding ability within the shooting circle. In addition to playing for Manchester Thunder, she has also demonstrated fantastic form since she was first selected for England Roses Academy in 2018 where she was part of the Netball Europe Championship winning U17 team. She has also played in the triumphant Netball Europe U21 Championships in 2019.

Lois Pearson, who is currently studying at University of Manchester, plays for YWCA Bury and has been part of the Academy since 2012. She has also recently enjoyed success at Manchester Thunder after having been named as Players’ Player of the Year in the 2019-2020 U21 Awards.

Manchester Thunder Head Coach and Director of Netball Karen said about Berri Neil, “ She is such exciting player for someone just 17 years old and following a solid few successful years in our Pathway, she stepped into a Training Partner role last season. She is able to play effectively across three positions so gives us some real flexibility in the attacking end. She is fearless on the shot and her timing and understanding of the circle will cause real havoc for defenders.”

About Lois Pearson, she said, “I have worked with her for a number of years from my days working with the regional pathway, and her development as a player has really impressed me. She quietly goes about her business on the court with great effect and is able to play across GA, GS and WA positions which is a rare talent. Having been a part of the Thunder Pathway for a number of years and more recently a Training Partner, she has caused our defence end some real challenges in training and I feel the time is right to give her the opportunity to step up”

“The promotion of this emerging talent demonstrates in real terms the value and importance of Manchester Thunder’s Performance Pathway in identifying and nurturing young talented athletes. The Pathway is renowned for its unique ability of creating a supportive and structured environment where players can be developed and given the opportunity to realise their full potential from grassroots level all the way through the age groups to the first team.”

I can’t wait to see what Berri and Lois can achieve as part of our squad for the 2020-2021 season.”

Berri Neil says, “It means a lot to me because I have supported Thunder since I was a little girl mainly because of how amazing they are, and I have always respected the players. I want to make a really positive impact on our squad and am looking forward to learning from other players’ experience.”

Lois Pearson says, “This is my dream ever since I started on the Thunder Pathway. I can’t wait to start training and playing with the team and show that I deserve my place in the squad. I’m really looking to helping them defend their Superleague title.”

Manchester Thunder had won all of their four matches in the 2020 season before it was cut short by COVID-19 so they will be eagerly looking to carry forward their undefeated record into the next season and replicate their Superleague success.

The VNSL Board, which is responsible for developing and delivering an ambitious and successful business plan for VNSL competition, is comprised of representatives from England Netball, clubs and the Chair of the Board.

Steve Elworthy, who held a position on the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup Board as well as the GB Basketball Board, will be responsible for the delivery of a shared vision and business plan designed to help grow the profile of the VNSL.

In addition, Steve’s job responsibilities will include ensuring the VNSL becomes and then remains a world-class competition.

Steve commented: “Having served as an Independent Director on the Vitality Netball World Cup Board I have been able to see how the nation has embraced the game from the Commonwealth Games to the World Cup in Liverpool and when this opportunity arose, I felt it was the perfect chance to continue my association with the game and the VNSL. I have been an active member of the netball community and spent many a weekend on the side of netball courts around the country watching my daughter play.

“I have seen first-hand the power sport has to enthuse girls of all ages and how players and athletes showcase the sport and act as inspirational role models for future generations. The VNSL is one of the best leagues in the world and I aim to use all the experience I have with leagues, competitions and events to grow and improve its status to be the UK’s best women’s league. Fundamental to that will be to work with England Netball and the Superleague clubs to plot a path forward for what is already, an exceptional league.”

Steve, who spent more than 14 years playing professional cricket and represented South Africa, has held the position of Director for six international Cricket Council (ICC) World events across two countries, including Managing Director of both the ICC Cricket Women’s World Cup in 2017 and the men’s in 2019.

Claire Nelson, CEO of Sirens Netball and VNSL board member, said: “The VNSL Board has been set up to ensure the league has a robust strategy and effective plans in place to make it the best women’s league in the UK. The VNSL Board has full confidence in Steve’s ability to help us deliver that mission. He has a clear track record of working with national governing bodies across a range of different sports and his expertise in the commercial space makes him a valuable asset to this team.

“His commitment to growing the profile of this sport and the VNSL is evident and I am very much looking forward to working with him.”

The 2020 VNSL season will kick off on 22 February at the Season Opener held at Arena Birmingham, which will see all 10 netball teams come face to face on one court. Tickets are still available to purchase via the England Netball website.

Courtesy of England Netball

The Sitec-sponsored Blue & Gold had seen their four-goal half-time lead cut to two going into the final quarter of this rearranged derby – sponsored by Royal High School Bath – and Stars had a couple of chances to draw level before good pressure right across the court helped the hosts regain some breathing space.

Beryl Friday battling with former Team Bath defender Samantha Cook (Photo: Bryn Vaile for Matchtight)

Five unanswered goals in the closing stages saw Team Bath secure a 53-43 victory, their fifth win in a row, and move up to fourth in the table – three points behind leaders Manchester Thunder and level with Saracens Mavericks, Wasps and Loughborough Lightning as an intriguing semi-final battle heats up.

Anna Stembridge, Team Bath Netball Head Superleague Coach, said: “It was important to build confidence, get the three points on the board and keep the momentum going.

“Credit to Stars, particularly in that third quarter, and we were asked a few questions but ultimately we are very confident about the way in which we want to play the game.

“It’s just important that we prepare game to game and don’t get ahead of ourselves as we have seen how competitive this league is.”

Defender Summer Artman, who was the Genuine Car Services Player of the Match, added: “It was a real hard fight and credit to Stars, they really pushed us, but that’s our fifth win on the bounce and we’ll definitely take that into the next game.

“We are back in the top four so we’re going to celebrate that tonight but not too much as we have a lot of matches to go.”

Both teams went into the game – rescheduled after being postponed in February due to snow – on the back of close-fought contests over the weekend, Team Bath beating Strathclyde Sirens 51-47 on Friday and Stars being edged out 54-53 by Loughborough Lightning on Saturday.

The first quarter here was also tightly contested, with both teams forcing plenty of turnover ball but struggling to make the most of it. Team Bath were rushing passes in attack but, with co-captain Eboni Usoro-Brown urging her team-mates to keep calm, they began to settle as the quarter went on and looked to be building momentum when they opened up a 9-6 lead.

Stars fought back strongly, though, and Maryka Holtzhausen scored with the last shot of a well-contested quarter to level the scores at 11-11.

It remained evenly matched in the opening stages of the second quarter but the Team Bath defence of Usoro-Brown, Imogen Allison and Artman, who was relishing her battle with rangy shooter Georgia Rowe, began to get the upper hand.

Accurate finishing by Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Kim Commane from good supply by Mia Ritchie and Rachel Shaw saw the hosts stretch their lead to five but Stars – who introduced former Team Bath attacker Paige Reed as part of a reshuffle – refused to let the game get away from them and cut the gap to 26-22 at half-time.

Genuine Car Services Player of the Match Summer Artman. (Photo: Bryn Vaile for Matchtight)

The Blue & Gold made two changes at the interval, introducing Serena Guthrie at C and Beryl Friday at GS, and they got the third quarter off to a flying start, stretching their lead out to seven, before Stars fought back once again.

Errors crept back into Team Bath’s play as the visitors closed the gap to 35-34 and had two chances to level the score but both were squandered and a couple of nerveless finishes at the other end from Friday, plus great defence right across the court in the closing seconds, ensured the hosts had their noses in front at 37-35 going into the final quarter.

Stars forced the first turnover of that period and had another chance to make it all square but a wonderful reach from Usoro-Brown retrieved possession for Team Bath, who went on to stretch their lead to four following another flying interception from Artman.

It remained nip and tuck for a while but, midway through the quarter, Team Bath finally began to pull away as strong defence was complemented by some fantastic finishing from Friday and Drakeford-Lewis. A run of five unanswered goals in the closing stages ensured the final score was 53-43.

After their run of three successive home games, Team Bath go back on the road for back-to-back visits to Surrey Storm on Monday, April 1 (7.30pm) and defending champions Wasps on Saturday, April 6 (6pm).

They are then back at the Team Bath Arena for what is shaping up to be a crunch clash in the race for a top-four finish – the visit of Loughborough Lightning on Friday, April 12 (7.30pm).

Tickets for that match and the Blue & Gold’s final home game of the season – against league newcomers London Pulse on Saturday, May 4 (6pm) – are on sale now here.

Team Bath Netball are sponsored by Sitec and supported by partners Mogers Drewett, Soldi and Netball South West. Centurion Chartered Financial Planners are supporting the team’s performance analysis and people development capabilities, Viper 10 are their Sportswear Supplier and Skins provide the team with compression wear.

Match stats

Team Bath Netball starting 7: GS Kim Commane, GA Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, WA Rachel Shaw, C Serena Guthrie, WD Imogen Allison, GD Eboni Usoro-Brown, GK Summer Artman. Replacements: Leila Thomas, Abi Robson, Mia Ritchie, Laura Rudland, Beryl Friday.

Changes: Q3: Guthrie – bench to C; Ritchie – C to bench; Friday – bench to GS; Commane – GS to bench.

Severn Stars starting 7: GS Georgie Rowe, GA Maryka Holtzhausen, WA Iona Darroch, C Lucy Harris, WD Rebecca Oatley, GD Jodi-Ann Ward, GK Samantha Cook. Replacements: Beth Gabriel, Cara Lea Moseley, Paige Reed, Adelaide Muskwe, Shona O’Dwyer.

Changes: Q2: Reed – bench to GA; Holtzhausen – GA to WA; Darroch – WA to C; Harris – C to WD; Oatley – WD to bench. Q4: Reed – GA to GS; Holtzhausen – WA to GA; Moseley – bench to WA.

Quarter scores (Team Bath first): Q1 11-11. Q2 26-22 (15-11). Q3 37-35 (11-13). Q4 53-43 (16-8).

Attendance: 1,000.

Genuine Car Services Player of the Match: Summer Artman.

Courtesy of the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd