Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Layla Guscoth and Chelsea Lewis commit to Team Bath

Head coach Jess Thirlby pleased to get the 2018 recruitment process off to strong start

By Sky Sports Netball

Image: Eboni Beckford-Chambers (left) has signed up to Team Bath for the new season

Captain Eboni Beckford-Chambers, defensive partner Layla Guscoth and goal-shooter Chelsea Lewis are the first Team Bath players to officially sign up for the 2018 Superleague season.

Beckford-Chambers and Guscoth forged an outstanding partnership during the 2017 campaign, which saw the Blue and Gold concede the fewest goals of any franchise in the competition.

"I am delighted to have signed to Team Bath for the 2018 season," said Beckford-Chambers who, away from the court, is a trainee solicitor.

"I am very much looking forward to building on the promising performances of 2017 and reigniting my partnership with Layla in defence. It is always a special feeling to play at the 'Bath tub' in front of our Blue and Gold fans and I can't wait for the season to get underway!"

Guscoth, who is a doctor at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, helped Team Bath finish fourth overall in 2017 and was named as coaches' player of the year after an impressive debut season.

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Welsh shooter Lewis was the sixth-highest Superleague scorer this year with 534 goals and boasted an 85.4 per cent conversion rate.

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Image: Team Bath head coach Jess Thirlby is delighted with his re-signings

Director of Netball Jess Thirlby was pleased to get the 2018 recruitment process off to a strong start, saying: "For Eboni, Layla and Chelsea to re-sign is a huge boost and testament to the unique environment that Team Bath provides.

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"All three have been pivotal to the Blue and Gold in recent years and it was important to secure their services again. We place huge value on retaining as many athletes as we can from one year to the next and know how important continuity is if we are to achieve our target of winning the league.

"Eboni and Layla were outstanding last season and we are excited to see them reunite in 2018, while Chelsea has become a linchpin for us in the shooting circle and has developed her game hugely."

One player who will not be wearing Blue and Gold next season is Samantha Cook, who is moving on after 13 years of loyal service.

"It's going to be very strange not being part of Team Bath but it's also an exciting opportunity," said Cook.

"It wasn't an easy decision because I have been with Team Bath for my entire netball career but I thought it was time to go elsewhere and take on a new challenge."

Team Bath Netball's senior squad will next be in action at the first-ever British Fast5 All-Stars competition, taking place at London's O2 Arena on September 23 and featuring the top eight Superleague franchises from 2017.

Follow the 2018 Vitality Superleague season with us on Sky Sports and through our website skysports.com/Netball also our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkyNetball

The regular season league home and away matches run from February to June, culminating in semi-finals and a Grand Final to determine the league champion.

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