Team Bath’s hopes of having turned the corner results-wise in netball’s NEXT Gen League were dashed on Friday 13th March.
Lucy Herdman netted nine two-point Super Shots in Team Bath’s NXT Gen League defeat at bottom side LexisNexis Dragons on Friday 13th March | Photo © Josh Le Feuvre
The Blue & Gold went into the campaign hoping to win the title. But they lost their first four matches, only to chalk up their opening victory when they overcame Birmingham Panthers on Friday 6th March.
And despite Team Bath still lying in penultimate place in the table, hopes were high for a second successive victory when they visited winless Welsh side NexisLexis Dragons a week later.
Unfortunately for the below-strength guests, the Cardiff outfit ended that unwanted record with a 63-62 success.
The result means the Dragons are still in the league’s basement slot but only two points adrift of the Somerset team who are four points behind third-bottom AO Manchester Thunder.
However, the Blue & Gold say they can take a lot of positives from their setback at the House of Sport.
Team Bath travelled to the principality with a defence depleted by injury and unavailability but feel they produced an excellent effort in the face of adversity.
They led 17-11 after the first quarter and stretched the gap to 37-30 during a free-scoring second period, Lucy Herdman netting several two-point Super Shots.
But the Dragons fought back fiercely during the third quarter and cut the visitors’ advantage to 50-48.
The lead changed hands several times in the final 15 minutes but the hosts hung on to claim victory.
Blue & Gold coaches Natalie Roddy and Anya Le Monnier were frustrated by the reverse. But they were pleased with Team Bath’s overall performance.
Their side will be looking for a second consecutive home win when they take on table-topping Loughborough Lightning at Team Bath Arena on Friday 20th March (7pm).
Team Bath will also be at home on Saturday 28th March, against London Mavericks (3pm).
Tickets for both games, priced from £12 to £20, are available at netball.teambath.com/tickets.
