Netball Super League | Wasps ready for weekend double-header

Wasps Netball’s fitness levels will be tested by this weekend’s Vitality Netball Superleague double-header at the Ricoh Arena.

Tamsin Greenway’s team face the challenge of playing two games in the space of three days as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the table.

They take on Team Northumbria on Saturday (7pm centre-pass) before facing West Midlands rivals Severn Stars on Monday night (7pm centre-pass).

Wasps have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season, with five straight victories including an impressive win last time out against last year’s runners-up Loughborough Lightning.

Wasps beat Saturday’s opponents Team Northumbria twice last season, and like Monday’s opponents Severn Stars the Newcastle-based outfit are yet to open their account this term.

Wasps have already met Stars this season, running out comfortable 65-44 winners at the University of Worcester Arena last month.

Wasps’ netball director Greenway knows the 72-hour schedule presents her team with a tough endurance test, but believes they are ready for the challenge.

“We’re excited about these two games, being back at home in front of our fans is always a plus and it’s a great opportunity to keep our momentum going,” she said.

“It’s a tight turnaround, the tightest we will face all season. It will be a test of our conditioning, but a test I’m confident we can pass.

“As I have always said, every team in this league has the quality to beat you on any given night. We have to make sure we are on the top of our game because both Northumbria and Stars will be coming here to beat us.

“We have the Commonwealth Games break coming up in a couple of weeks too, that will be an interesting time for us to re-group, recover and look at how we can keep improving.”

Goalkeeper Sam May has been one of Wasps’ star players during the opening five games of the season, starting in every fixture.

“It’s going to be pretty intense,” she said. “But I think that’s what we have to deal with and it’s up to us to just get on with the show.

“We’ll be working hard in training to make sure we are ready for the quick turnaround.

“When we get together in the week we listen to Tamsin’s advice and it has served us well so far this season.”

The Wasps’ Fan Village will be open from 6pm before each game, with refreshments and netball themed activities on offer for fans.

Tickets for the Wasps Netball fixtures against Team Northumbria on March 10 and Severn Stars on March 12 are available from www.waspsnetball.co.uk/tickets