USW netball 2nd 33-33 Bath Spa 2nd

USW fought out a thrilling draw with Bath Spa. Pic: Blake Bint

By Hywel Fuller

A LAST gasp goal rescued a draw for University of South Wales in a thrilling encounter against Bath Spa.

The match started off with a bang with both teams scoring three goals within the opening exchanges – and those opening few moments would set the standard.

The first quarter of the match ended with the scores level at 7-7.

And the second quarter started with the same high intensity as the first with a flurry of goals,  the best of the bunch coming from Bath Spa goal-attack Charlotte Kent and goal-shooter Vikki Kite.

However, it was USW who started pulling ahead thanks to scores from Nat Mackay in particular. At one stage they held a 14-11 advantage, but the gap was never more.

At half-time it was 16-15 in the hosts’ favour, but a third quarter purple patch from Bath which saw Kite and Katie Cleal on target, handed the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.

A quick-fire double from Mackay made sure that USW would go into the final quarter in the lead at 26 – 24.

It was to be a nail-biting final quarter as both teams were tied 32-32 going into the last few moments.

Bath thought they had won thanks to a goal by Kite but in the last second USW equalised to send the crowd in attendance into raptures.