Match Report
England Netball
England Netball
KC leads her sunshine band to crushing win over Lightning
Few would have predicted that come the end of round 4 this clash would be a bottom of the table battle, but with The FIAT Netball Superleague springing surprises galore this year, this is exactly what we had. Loughborough Lightning have a solitary victory to their name, a home win over Team Northumbria whilst Team Bath were looking for their first points of the season. However, it has to be noted that Jess Garland’s side have already faced the three sides that sit on top of the table so far this season.
Those matches against the top sides seemed to have encouraged the visitors as they ran out convincing winners over Lightning, with Kadeen Corbin collecting the Player of the Match award following a particularly impressive display. An even first quarter had suggested a close encounter was to be witnessed, but Bath upped their game excellently and accelerated away from their hosts to pick up their maiden win of the 2012 campaign.
In the opening quarter the contest was finely poised as the international combination duo of Asha Francis and Corbin were quick to find their rhythm. However, Jade Forbes-Wattley and Nichola Caunt were pressurising the Bath attack and producing several turnovers for Lightning as the home side responded. It was a frenetic, high energy start with the action predominantly focused in the mid-court with a great tussle developing with Sophia Candappa and Mia Ritchie. A 2-2 score line after 5 minutes did scant justice for the determination displayed on court. Corbin then took the game into her hands and punished a couple of turnovers with some composed shooting and Bath were suddenly five clear and looking the stronger side. It would be foolish to count anything for granted this season and Lightning showed that you couldn’t give this service to them as they surged back through excellent work in the mid-court from Jodie Gibson. Becky James was on hand to complete the moves and in the blink of an eye the hosts were trailing by just one, a last second attempt bounced off the ring and they had to be satisfied with a 9-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
The second half started in spectacular fashion with an excellent intercept from Gemma Fletcher in the heart of the Bath defence, quick ball was played through the court and Corbin scored on the leap. Amanda Trounce had been introduced at WA for the visitors in place of Yasmin Parsons and she immediately linked with Corbin as Bath one again pushed clear. Once more Olivia Murphy’s side come fighting back as they reduced arrears to two through fine work from Olivia Mason in the circle. It was still obvious that Bath had settled the better and when they upped the tempo and passed the ball through the court with pace, they looked a very classy side. Fantastic movement in the attacking third allowed for plenty of chances and with it an increase in their lead. Francis was rarely missing and Sam Cook was starting to impose herself in defence. At the interval the visitors had moved 26-14 ahead, to the delight of a noisy away support.
Changes were aplenty for the hosts at the break with Lianne Badmin, Jordan Moxey and Afrika Morris all introduced onto court. Scarlett Williams was the sole replacement for Bath. The pressure from the away side continued to intensify and Lightning were being forced into basic mistakes as Bath worked tirelessly to retrieve possession. Ritchie started to pull the strings in the mid-court as she linked defence to attack fluently and hounded the opposition when they were on the ball. Nerves were evident for the hosts as sweeping moves up court were suddenly grounded to a halt around the circle as the decision making slowed and the attack fearful of giving away cheap turnovers. The Bath dominance continued at the end of the third quarter the gap between the sides had grown to 18, a lead of 41-23 to the visitors.
With the game all but over, Garland experimented with her side and shifted around the seven on court, swapping positions in the same third principally. The pattern of play continued with Bath clinical on the turnover and Lightning low on ideas and movement in the attacking circle. Little by little the advantage increased as the away side refused to let their standard of play drop. The final score was a fair reflection of the control that Bath exerted on the match. The result sees four teams now sat on three points, just a win away from the top four with only three rounds remaining until the league splits.
Umpires: Sarah Watts and Kylie Woodhead with Kate Wilcox as reserve
Starting line-ups:
Loughborough Lightning: GS - James, GA - Mason, WA - McFarlane, C – Candappa, WD –Gibson, GD - Caunt, GK - Forbes-Wattley. Bench: Morris, Moxey, Montgomery, Badmin, Sinclair
Team Bath: GS -Francis, GA - Corbin, WA - Parsons, C - Ritchie, WD - Watkins, GD - Fletcher, GK - Cook. Bench: Hayes, Trounce, Rose, Williams, McGinley
Shooting stats:
Loughborough Lightning: James: 19/25 – 76%, Mason: 5/7 – 71%, Badmin: 6/8 – 75%, McFarlane: 1/3 – 33%, Team: 31/43 – 72%
Team Bath: Francis: 22/25 – 88%, Corbin: 33/45 – 73%, Hayes: ½ - 50%, Team: 56/62 – 78%