Netball Super League | Wasps ready to spark Midlands rivalry

Tamsin Greenway is calling on Wasps Netball fans to turn the Ricoh Arena into a fortress ahead of their clash with Midlands rivals Loughborough Lightning.

Wasps Netball have started the season with three wins from three – including a 51-47 win against Hertfordshire Mavericks in their home debut in front of more than 2,000 fans – and next up is another home clash against Loughborough Lightning at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, March 11 (7.45pm centre-pass).

Like their opponents Loughborough have enjoyed a similarly strong start to the season with three straight wins.

The fixture provides added spice for Leicester-born Wasps Director of Netball Tamsin Greenway, as she looks to get one over the team who play just up the road from where she grew up.

She said: “It’s natural that Loughborough brings its own rivalry, and it will be another challenge for us.

“I thought the crowd on Sunday were brilliant at cheering for every goal and willing the players on when there wasn’t much in the score line.

“That sort of encouragement makes a lot of difference when you’re out on that court because it’s an intimate arena to play in where you can hear what’s being said.

“Loughborough are an established team in this league and I’m sure they’ll be bringing a few fans along, so we’ll need as many of our own fans to get behind us just like they did last weekend.

“Loughborough have started well, the game will bring new challenges, defensively they’re very solid and it will be good to test ourselves against one of the top teams in the league.

“We’re the new kids on the block with a strong squad, so people want to come to the Ricoh Arena and be the first to beat us. We have to make sure that’s not Loughborough on Saturday.”

Wasps will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season and carry on building a winning-mentality in the squad.

Amy Flanagan has started every game so far at wing defence for Wasps and says Loughborough Lightning will be their toughest challenge yet.

She added: “There are always rivalries in netball, this is a new one that is in the early-stages but it definitely does add an extra-edge.

“Lots of netball programmes are built up from regional areas so that does mean that you have under 16s teams that are used to playing against teams from other regions, so the rivalry builds up as you go along.

“Loughborough have had the benefit of having a very similar squad to last year and have been able to build on some very strong performances at the end of last season.

“Lightning are going from strength to strength and for us it’s about how we counteract that.”

Wasps Netball under 17s will face Loughborough Lightning under 17s prior to the Superleague clash (4:45pm centre-pass), with entry included in the price of the main ticket.

Fans can also enjoy a range of netball activities at the fan village, which will be open from 4:30pm before Saturday’s game.

Tickets for Wasps vs Loughborough Lightning on 11 March start from £10 for adults while under-10s go free, and can be purchased from www.waspsnetball.co.uk/tickets.