The Birmingham Panthers NXT Gen took on Team Bath last Friday night in a tightly fought battle. Both sides had something to prove, with only a few points separating both teams on the ladder.

After a devastating one-point loss last week against Leeds Rhinos, the Birmingham Panthers arrived ready to compete. From the first whistle, both teams contested every opportunity to gain possession and drive the ball through court. With the score tied at 14–14 at the end of the first quarter, it was clear the game was far from over.

In the second and third quarters, the Birmingham Panthers continued to build their score, playing smart and measured netball while preventing Team Bath from gaining any real advantage. By the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 41–41, setting up a thrilling final quarter. One of our very own midcourters, Tori Akinrinlola, was an instrumental player for the Birmingham Panthers, bringing calmness and strong decision-making to the attack end.

After a challenging contest and impressive netball from both sides, the Birmingham Panthers NXT Gen went down in heartbreaking fashion, 51–54 to Team Bath. The team didn’t back down and fought hard until the final whistle. While the loss stung, the team celebrated their Players’ Player, Tori Akinrinlola, for an outstanding performance.

The Birmingham Panthers NXT Gen will regroup ahead of their next major clash against the London Mavericks this Saturday at the Nechells Wellbeing Centre with centre pass at 4:30pm. Keep an eye out for another exciting weekend of fantastic netball.