Two of Bedford’s brightest sporting talents are looking forward to the new Netball Super League season with Beth Dix appointed as co-captain of Scotland’s sole professional side, Strathclyde Sirens.
The Sirens, who finished eighth out of eleven sides in the 2022 edition have seen a big sea change for this season – along with a lot of the other squads in the Super League – with Bedford-born Dix appointed co-captain alongside Emily Nicholls for the Scottish side.
It was only a strong finish to last season that saw the Sirens up to eighth, but Dix is hopeful of a top-four finish in 2023, an achievement that would see them in to the end of season play-offs.
“I am hoping top four, we made eighth last year so I am hoping that we can do better than that this year,” said Dix.
“We have to just keep improving. Top four is looking competitive but I am there and ready to fight.
“We have to win our must-win games and then compete with the best in the league.”
The Super League is the nation’s leading netball competition and will be boosted this year by comprehensive coverage on Sky Sports, a move many within the game hope will boost participation.
Many teams have seen wholesale changes to their squads and coaching staff, which could mean a new look league table come the end of the campaign but the Scottish Sirens’ strength is the close-knit group they possess, with just two new names on their roster.
With the majority of the squad part of the Scotland national side, Dix hopes their togetherness can reap rewards.
“There are a few new personalities as well as keeping a core group, I think that’s quite exciting,” said Dix.
“It’s a nice balance between the two. We have got some flair players coming in which is exciting, a bit of feistiness about us.
“[Ugandan international] Stella Oyella looks sharp in training, and I am excited to see her on court for us. She will bring that extra bit of spice and flair and she’s really strong on to ball. I think she is going to be one to watch.
“We are a really dogged team, and we are going to go to the end of every game.”
Can anyone silence the Thunder?
Out of a super league of eleven teams, Manchester Thunder are the team to beat although they have lost Tracey Neville to Australian side Adelaide Thunderbirds for the season.
One side hoping they can stop the team who claimed a 100% record in the last campaign are London Pulse, where Bedford’s Ellie Rattu returns for another season at wing defence.
The Pulse made the play-offs last season, finishing third in the league standings before losing out to Loughborough Lightning in the semi-finals, with Rattu’s side hoping to go one or maybe two steps further in 2023.
Rattu made her international debut for the Roses in an international series against Uganda in October and will take that experience in to the new Super League season alongside her London Pulse colleagues who will hope to better their third place finish last season.
Read: Bedford netball star earns maiden international call up for Uganda Series
The first round of fixtures begin this Saturday with Dix’s Strathclyde Sirens travelling the length of the country to face Surrey Storm while Rattu’s London Pulse are also away to Leeds Rhinos.
The two Bedford stars face off against each other on Monday 13th March at London’s Copper Box Arena before the reverse fixture on Saturday 13th May in Glasgow.
The 2023 Netball Super League season gets underway on Saturday 11 February, live on Sky Sports.
