Force come good to take third place

Pamela Cookey continued her journey back to full fitness and posted a good performance. At times her movements was just sensational and with a full season behind her next year she will cause defences lots of issues.

Bath fielded an experienced defence line up of Mentor at GK, Welsh international Billy Bowers at GD and Natalie Seaton at WD. This combination was successfully in restricting the movement of the Blaze attack.

Gemma Gibson and Verona Jackson worked hard for the Blaze in defence but gained little reward for their efforts. In a low scoring game the ball moved up and down the court with long periods between goals. Blaze were however without the services of England International Karen Aspinall who was suffering from illness and was unable to take any part in the game. Blaze therefore had limited options in their mid court combinations but Astle was back in action in the circle for them.

Camilla Buchanan had a good game at WA for the Force with some beautiful placements of the ball into shooters Garland and Cookey and later Rachel Dunn. Bath displayed great poise and were patient with their possession and it was these characteristics which gave them victory. It was a very mature performance from a team whose average age is just 21. Blazes had limited chances in the 60 minutes but were unable to really capitalise on them. The first quarter was perhaps the most exciting with nothing to chose between the two sides. Goals were scored off each team's centre passes and the scores were locked at 11 all. For the next 45 minutes Bath held the upper hand and did the crucial damage in the final 15 minutes of play taking the quarter 10 - 5.

Previous Results

2001 Birmingham University Blaze 64 Team Bath Force 36

2002 Birmingham University Blaze 51 Team Bath Force 48

2003 Birmingham University Blaze 46 Team Bath Force 42

Umpires

Beryl Lewis Turner - IFNA Umpire

Hayley Gillman - IFNA Umpire