By Saskia Holland

A remarkable second half come back saw Leeds Rhinos Netball end their 2023 home campaign on a high with victory over Team Bath at the Allam Sport Centre.

The Leeds Rhinos had been 15 goals behind in the first half, but some brilliant defence from Vicki Oyesola and two 17 goal quarters in the second half from Leeds secured them a 59-55 win that took up a place above their opponents into eighth spot in the league. 

Bath took an early lead after some miscommunication meant Brie Grierson was unable to get the ball to her team to start the game and the ball was thrown off court.  Team Bath took advantage of this with a goal from Betsy Creak.  The Rhinos responded with an intercept in the circle from Michelle Magee that allowed her team to get the ball down to Ellie Bird to go 1-1.

Jayda Pechova was the one who received the ball in the circle and amid a missed shot from Creak, a contact call on the rebound for Vicki Oyesola meant Creak could finish it off. Contact call against Caroline O’Hanlon on Sophie Kelly in the centre third gave Team Bath a chance to go three goals ahead but a missed shot from Sophie Kelly landed in the hands of Magee and a feed from Elle McDonald into Bird for the goal.

Sophie Kelly finished off the first quarter with a shot from the edge of the circle to see her team go in with an 18-12 lead.

The second quarter saw Bath match their efforts from the first with another 18 goals.  Both teams had converted off their first centre passes to start the quarter but a misplaced feed into Bird bounced off the post into the hands of Pechova and a goal from Creak after contact from Oyesola.  

Team Bath looked in control for most of the second period with Creak and Kelly looking good in attack and they were able to widen their lead to make the score 25-13.

Paige Reed entered the court and made immediate impact due to her connection with Caroline O’Hanlon and then a short pass to Bird which saw another goal for Leeds Rhinos.

Team Bath continued to turnover ball and were able to make the most of their possession and soon had a 33-18 lead.

Leeds showed their resilience and looked to create opportunities for Reed and Bird but Bath kept pulling away.  There were some impressive passages of the play in the quarter - Nia jones making herself available at the centre pass to see the ball was worked down into Reed who converted to make it 35-23.  Leeds kept on at their opponents, but Bath went in at the break with an eleven goal lead, meaning a big second half was required from Liana Leota's side.

Leeds stepped up to the task in the third quarter and showed fight to bring them within a goal of their opponents.  They showed their intent early on when Nia Jones fed Bird from the centre third and Pechova was unable to get her hands on it and they started to chip away at Bath's lead.

A turnover for Mtukule was wasted after Imogen Allison was unable to find her team and the ball landed out of court in Team Bath's attacking end. This eventually ended in a goal for Leeds Rhinos after a feed from Rosie Harris. Lily-May Catling was called for contact on the edge of the circle which allowed O’Hanlon to feed the ball into Reed 40-32.

Leeds Rhinos began to pick up the intensity and a feed from Harris into Bird narrowed the scoreline 36-40.  Footwork from Hannah Passmore under the post allowed Leeds to take advantage with a goal from Bird and their intent got them to within touching distance at 43-42 heading into the final quarter.

Leeds soon levelled the game and it went goal for goal, until Leeds finally found a way through to take the lead for the first time in the game.  After some superb play from Oyesola, again coming up with some vital intercepts, things began to turn in the favour of Leeds.  Catling was called for contact outside of the circle for Bath, which allowed O’Hanlon to pass the ball into Reed to make it 46-45.

A caution for Catling on Team Bath's centre pass then meant Bird could add another goal and Leeds then built momentum as the game drew to a close to secure the 59-55 win.

Rhinos Netball:

GK: Vicki Oyesola
GD: Michelle Magee
WD: Nia Jones
C: Elle McDonald
WA: Caroline O'Hanlon
GA: Brie Grierson
GS: Ellie Bird

REPLACEMENTS: Amy Braithwaite, Jemma Donoghue, Rosie Harris, Paige Reed, Millie Sanders

Team Bath

GK: Jayda Pechova
GD: Lily-May Catling
WD: Imogen Allison
C: Bethan Dyke
WA: Ali Wilshier
GA: Sophie Kelly
GS: Betsy Creak

REPLACEMENTS: Summer Artman, Kadeen Corbin, Kirsty Harris, Caroline Mtukule, Hannah Passmore