By Jared Parry
IN a bottom of the table clash Bath Spa 3rds picked up their first victory of the season at the expense of a depleted USW 4ths at the Sport Park.
USW were up against it before the first whistle blew as they could only field six players, meaning they sacrificed a wing-attack in the first two quarters of the game.
Unsurprisingly Bath Spa rushed into an early lead as goal-attack Maia Attwood and goal-shooter Tia Prelevic proved prolific with their accuracy.
The visitors exploited the gap created by USW’s absent wing-attack and claimed 10 goals in the first quarter, with a single effort from goal-attack Alice Ford USW’s only response.
The second quarter had a slightly slower start. USW grew into the game, but only slightly.
Goal-shooter Charlotte Holtman scored early on when USW won a penalty and she was on the end of the pass. Ford also scored two for USW but unfortunately Bath Spa scored six through Attwood and Prelevic, bringing the score to 16 – 4.
USW decided sacrifice a wing defence as the game progressed and Holtman once again scored scoring early on in the third quarter. This period was far more evenly-matched with Holtman adding another four goals and Ford chipping in with one also.
However going into the final quarter USW still trailed 23-10 and although they fought valiantly until the end they were never going to turn things around.
It was understandable that Bath Spa had the greater energy in the closing stages and Attwood and Prelevic continued to do damage on the scoreboard.
Two more from Holtman and a further three from Ford kept USW respectable, but defeat still leaves them winless for the campaign.