YWCA Bury netballers completed the first half of their National Premier Division Two season with a long trip to Bath and won 75-44 against Team Bath Toucans to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

With an average age of just 19 Bury started with their youngest line-up of the season with the eldest player on court being Tyrene Karim at 21.

The away team came out firing and quickly built up an early 8-1 lead. Emma Rayner made an instant impact in defence alongside the experience of Karim and Elia McCormick, while Kelsie Taylor and Alicia Scholes drove the ball forward and creating the opportunities for Lois Pearson, pictured, and Millie Roscoe in the circle to build up a dominant 21-8 lead at the end of arguably the best quarter of netball Bury have played this season.

Bath were unable to cope with the pace and precision of the away team’s attacks and Bury extended their lead to 30-10 at one stage, eventually leading 39-20 at the midway point.

Bury kept up the pressure in attack in the third quarter with Jenny Cross, Karim and McCormick disrupting the home team’s attacking efforts. With the game effectively over as a contest YWCA were guilty of attempting too many long-range passes into Caitlin Sharkey in the circle. A change of shooters saw Bury attack with more fluency, precision and speed and they closed the quarter 57-33 ahead.

The young Bath side continued to work tirelessly and at times played some lovely netball of their own, with their goal shooter scoring 32 goals from 34 attempts.

But Bury kept the scoreboard ticking over right to the final whistle to see out an emphatic victory, their ninth from their nine games of the season to ensure they top the table.

Pearson scored 32 goals from 33 attempts to take the opposition’s player of the match award.

This weekend Bury host Telstars in the final game before the Christmas break.