Netball Super League | Wasps Netball not thinking about unbeaten record

Tamsin Greenway says her Wasps Netball team are not thinking about achieving an unbeaten season despite their perfect seven game winning start.

Wasps Netball face Welsh side Celtic Dragons at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday, March 18 (6.00pm centre-pass) – their third home fixture in eight days.

It will be Wasps’ final fixture before the month-long Vitality Netball Superleague break for the Commonwealth Games, with their next game at home against Team Bath on April 22.

Wasps currently sit top of the table, overcoming Team Northumbria and Severn Stars in their previous two fixtures – the team’s attention now turns to Dragons, who have two wins this season.

Wasps’ netball director Greenway has stressed the importance of continuing to challenge her team.

“Is it possible to win every game? Yes, several of the players here have done it before at other teams, but you never look at it like that,” Greenway said.

“Every game comes and it’s all a different challenge. We need pressure games and to be in tough situations before you get to the Final Four, like we have been.

“For me, I don’t like it, I’ve achieved an unbeaten season before and lost the Grand Final by one goal.

“Sometimes it’s nice to see your weaknesses, it allows you to correct them – and I think we found some against Severn Stars on Monday night.

“You don’t want to get to the final and then find out those weaknesses.”

Wasps Netball will be without star players Natalie Haythornthwaite and Jade Clarke for the visit of Dragons, after the pair also missed the clash with Severn Stars on Monday night.

The mid-court duo are away with the England Roses squad for the Commonwealth Games, but centre Amy Flanagan is confident other players can step-up.

“We have some absolutely top class players who can step in while Nat and Jade are away, Sophia Candappa is a great player, she is just coming back from injury too,” Flanagan said.

“We’ll be working on our new combinations in preparation for Sunday but also analysing the play of Dragons to see where we can make it count on the night.

“It was great to come out and prove we could still win without our England players against Stars and we are aiming to go into the break with eight wins and look at what we can work on when we come back.”

Tickets for Wasps Netball vs Celtic Dragons on March 18 are available from www.waspsnetball.co.uk/tickets.