Northumbria Bring Down Curtain On Sport Central Campaign

Team Northumbria failed to take their chances against an in-form Team Bath tonight as the physical visitors cruised to a 56-44 win at Sport Central.

From the centre pass, Anna Stembridge’s side sought to assert their authority with England star Eboni Beckford-Chambers delivering a defensive masterclass.

And at the other end the relentless Chelsea Lewis fully deserved her Player Of The Match award after a no-holds-barred tussle with Tuaine Keenan.

With the officials struggling to keep a handle on a feisty affair, both sides attempted every trick in the book to gain the upper hand.

But it was Bath who led from start to finish as TN too often lost their own turnover ball on the back of a scrappy centre court performance.

Brie Grierson retained her place in the starting seven after overcoming a pre-match injury but the centre never looked comfortable.

And by the time she was replaced by Jaydene Robinson, a belligerent Bath were already closing in on a double figure lead.

Like Grierson, an out-of-sorts Tamsin Moala found the going tough during a punishing first period. But the introduction of Vicky Burgess at wing attack in the second quarter inspired a long overdue fightback and the hosts’ best spell of the game.

The veteran star pinged pass after pass straight into the hands of Chiara Semple and Georgia Rowe. But the latter found Beckford-Chambers a challenging opponent in the circle with the senior international swarming all over TN’s inexperienced attack.

Bath led by 13 heading into the final quarter but TeAroha Keenan’s side refused to throw in the towel.

And TN won the fourth period - and their last at Sport Central this season - 12-11 on the back of a last-second Semple shot.