TEAM JETS sit proudly on top of the Regional League 1 Netball division ahead of an away double header against Team Bath A and Galmington this weekend.
Head coach Serena Kersten is hoping her team can back up a superb performance at home last weekend in which they comprehensively beat promotion rivals Poole 53-36.
The win set the perfect tone to start 2024 for Jets and left the Islanders in an excellent position to stamp their authority on the promotion race by travelling to face two sides right at the bottom of the division.
Kersten will have to do without her leading scorer, however, as star shooter Leah Griffin went down against Poole with an ankle injury that could keep her out for a couple of weeks. She will be replaced for these matches by the promising youngster Emily Le Gros, while the impressive Jodie Blampied also returns to Jets colours.
Co-captain Jacy Brown said: “We are gutted to be missing Leah [Griffin] after her injury. She’s a key player and threat for us.
“But we welcome other players back from injury like Jodie [Blampied] and some of the younger players being given an opportunity.
“It’s an exciting time and we have everything to play for.”
Team Bath A currently sit eighth in the ten-team league, with an identical win-loss ratio from their eight fixtures so far. After winning their opening two games, Bath have struggled for results recently, including three losses from their last four fixtures of 2023.
However, they took some form with them from their last match before the Christmas break with a thrilling 60-59 victory against Premier Romans A. The match against Jets will be their first game of 2024 and they will be looking to take down the league leaders.
The former England captain’s side take on Galmington in the second of their weekend fixtures, a team firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. Having recorded just one win this season, the Somerset-based side are in need of an upswing in their results.
They will come into the fixture with confidence, however, after a surprise victory against Poole 58-44 in their last match of 2023, ending their run of eight successive league defeats.
Team Jets have already played Galmington earlier in the season, where they were comfortable 46-31 winners.
Second-placed Hucclecote Comets currently possess the greatest threat to the Caesareans, just three points behind them after the same number of matches.
However, they face a tough match against third-placed Poole this weekend, a match that could go a long way to helping the Jets extend their stranglehold on the promotion spot.
