Share Table-topping Wasps Netball begin a sequence of three consecutive away games when they visit Manchester Thunder on Saturday June 2 (2.15pm centre-pass). And the Manchester Arena clash has taken on added significance following the black-and-golds’ last-time-out defeat against nearest Vitality Netball Superleague rivals Loughborough Lightning. This setback ended Wasps’ unbeaten start to the season and with the chasing pack now within three points, club captain Hannah Knights knows her team cannot afford another slip-up. “We can’t afford to make simple mistakes like we did against Loughborough. We were punished for each mistake in that game,” she said. “There are three away games in a row for us now. We really need to focus in these next few games – especially on the road because it’s always difficult when the crowd isn’t behind you. “We need to continue to build to the end of the season. We take each game as it comes and we are focused on improving from the Lightning performance. “We will look in-depth at the last time we played against Thunder because we know they are an elite side.” The two teams last met at the Ricoh Arena in April, when Wasps edged a thrilling encounter 64-60, and netball director Tamsin Greenway is looking for her team to produce an immediate reaction to last week’s defeat. “Thunder will look at what Loughborough did and try to replicate that,” she said. “It was a really close game when we last played them and we know it will be again, especially with their fans behind them. “We will be looking at what went wrong against Lightning and fixing those issues. We have to go to Manchester with more fire in our bellies. “The next few weeks are going to be really interesting. There will be some real crunch games with the top four teams playing each other. “We only need a couple of wins to cement a top four place and I’m confident we can do that.” After trips to Manchester, Celtic Dragons and Team Bath, Wasps’ final home game of the season brings benecosMavericks to Coventry on Monday, June 18 (7pm centre-pass). Tickets are available from www.waspsnetball.co.uk/tickets. The race to reach the Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final is heating up – don’t miss out on the season-ending spectacular and get your tickets now! Related news video 17th Sep 2024 An interview with Manchester Thunder with Sky Sports News Reading: 0 mins Tags: Hannah Knights Loughborough Lightning Manchester Thunder Tamsin Greenway Wasps Netball Previous Story Manchester Thunder step into the ring to prepare for Wasps battle Next Story Bath fans “so important” in crucial home run More News 23rd Oct 2024 News Introducing the NXT Gen League: Everything you need to know! Reading: 4 mins 8th Oct 2024 News Netball Super League set for showdown at The O2 as 2025 fixtures are announced Reading: 4 mins 7th Oct 2024 News Announcing the Netball Super Cup 2025 Reading: 2 mins 7th Oct 2024 News Netball Super League Relaunched: A Bold New Brand for a Bold New Era Reading: 2 mins 17th Sep 2024 video An interview with London Pulse on Sky Sports News Reading: 0 mins More Google Ad – MPU – Right Column