Team Bath defeat Manchester Thunder to improve Vitality Netball Superleague semi-final chances

Team Bath made it a Vitality Netball Superleague double over Manchester Thunder to put them in prime position for the semi-finals.

A couple of signature blocks and interventions from Kerry Almond helped Thunder establish an early 16-12 lead but England Roses’ Serena Guthrie began winning the centre battle with Caroline O’Hanlon and the visitors took over.

Bath turned a 27-24 lead into 41-38 by the end of the third quarter and they showed composure, resilience, aggression and physicality along with notable shooting performances from Kim Commane and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis to secure victory and three vital points.

The result means that nothing is guaranteed in terms of top-four places heading into the final round of the Superleague. There are still three semi-final spots up for grabs after Wasps secured home advantage in the final four with second-placed Thunder at Surrey Storm and third-placed Team Bath at home to London Pulse in the final round of matches next Saturday.

1. ROUND. TO. GO …… it’s tighter than the door of a submarine …. @SkyNetball @NetballSL pic.twitter.com/Mu0oHhuchO

Loughborough Lightning sit in fourth position, also on 36 points along with Thunder and Bath, after a narrow 67-62 victory at London Pulse.

Saracens Mavericks, who beat Severn Stars 62-48, finish the campaign in a must-win home game against Strathclyde Sirens knowing they will need to win and hope other results go their way in order to reach the semi-finals.

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