Netball Super League | #VNSL2018 review: Wasps Netball

Round-by-Round Recap

Round 1 – Wasps Netball 68-43 Surrey Storm

A capacity crowd packed the Ericsson Indoor Arena to see the reigning champions begin their Vitality Netball Superleague title defence with a dominant win. Tamsin Greenway’s team led throughout the game and pulled away from the visitors in the second quarter, building a big advantage which eventually led to an impressive opening result.

Round 2 – Severn Stars 52-64 Wasps Netball

It was a frustrating evening for Severn Stars as they lost out to their Midland rivals Wasps Netball. The reigning champions dominated much of the first quarter, building a decisive advantage from which Stars were unable to recover despite strong second and third quarters.

Round 3 – Wasps Netball 69-37 UWS Sirens

UWS Sirens started strongly against the defending champions, capitalising on a few mistakes from the home side to limit Wasps Netball to a four-goal advantage at the end of the first quarter. Tamsin Greenway’s team pushed on with a classy display, creating turnover after turnover and limiting Sirens’ attacking options.

Round 4 – benecosMavericks 52-66 Wasps Netball

Wasps Netball extended their unbeaten start to the season with a win at Essex University, home of previously unbeaten benecosMavericks. Wasps built an early five-goal lead but Mavericks showed flashes of defensive excellence and threatened to get back into game. The defending champions showed good composure to quickly re-assert their authority though.

Round 5 – Loughborough Lightning 49-60 Wasps Netball

Wasps Netball survived a late Loughborough Lightning comeback to secure a well-earned away win against last season’s Vitality Superleague runners-up. Tamsin Greenway’s team led by 17 at one stage but the hosts fought back and reduced the lead to six, before Wasps pulled away in the final minutes.

Round 6 – Wasps Netball 74-38 Team Northumbria

Team Northumbria drew first blood but it was Wasps Netball who raced into an 8-1 lead before running riot to lead 40-15 at half time. Wasps continued to pile the pressure on Team Northumbria and took full advantage when their opponents were reduced to six players, running away as comfortable victors.

Round 7 – Wasps Netball 74-32 Celtic Dragons

A dominant defensive performance led Wasps Netball to victory against Celtic Dragons at the Ricoh Arena with the reigning champions limiting Dragons to a record-low tally for goals scored in a Vitality Netball Superleague game in 2018.

Round 8 – Wasps Netball 61-44 Team Bath Netball

Wasps Netball secured a comfortable victory on their return to Vitality Netball Superleague action. Commonwealth Games gold medal winners Natalie Haythornthwaite and Jade Clarke returned for Wasps, with England teammate Kadeen Corbin taking to the court for the visitors at the Ricoh Arena. The game provided the hosts with a ninth successive victory.

Round 9 – Wasps Netball 64-60 Manchester Thunder

Wasps Netball secured a dramatic win to maintain their perfect record. The league leaders faced their toughest challenge of the season so far as the visitors were within one goal until the final minute but a flurry of late goals pushed the black-and-gold advantage to four.

Round 10 – Wasps Netball 54-43 Severn Stars

Wasps Netball made it seven successive wins to start the season despite being without two of their star players against Severn Stars. Tamsin Greenway’s team ran out 54-43 winners in a hard fought game against their West Midlands rivals.

Round 11 – Wasps Netball 57-50 benecosMavericks

Kat Ratnapala’s team fought back from a six-goal half-time deficit to level in the third quarter but they faltered over the closing 15 minutes as Wasps Netball secured their 15th win of the season to sign off their home campaign.

Round 12 – UWS Sirens 45-59 Wasps Netball

There was nothing to separate the two sides in the opening exchanges, as they matched each other goal-for-goal in a high-intensity first quarter. UWS Sirens kept pace with the league leaders throughout the first half. Wasps Netball pulled away from their hosts in the third quarter.

Round 13 – Surrey Storm 36-63 Wasps Netball

Wasps Netball took home the Tom Reseigh Trophy with a comfortable win. Tamsin Greenway’s side controlled the game throughout – pulling away from their opponents in the second half – to secure their 12th successive victory.

Round 14 – Wasps Netball 47-60 Loughborough Lightning

It was a determined Loughborough Lightning team that quashed Wasps’ hopes of an unbeaten season. Lightning were scrappy to start but quickly found their rhythm. Impressive defensive pressure from Shamera Sterling and Vicki Oyesola caused Wasps problems in attack and with the ever-reliable Peace Proscovia down the opposite end the away side grew their lead.

Round 15 – Manchester Thunder 53-42 Wasps Netball

Manchester Thunder stormed to victory over defending champions Wasps at the Manchester Arena. Thunder took the win after an energy-sapping four quarters of intense netball to inflict a second defeat in a row on Wasps. The Black and Yellows were strong across court, but Malawian shooter Joyce Mvula was particularly impressive, and was deservedly named player of the match.

Round 16 – Celtic Dragons 42-83 Wasps Netball

Wasps showed all the class that led them to Grand Final glory in 2017 as they launched themselves into the contest and, despite a good lead at half-time, they weren’t content to cruise to victory. Celtic Dragons put everything into the performance, but to little avail as the visitors took a well-deserved victory.

Round 17 – Team Bath Netball 40-58 Wasps Netball

A professional performance from visitors Wasps in front of more than 1300 spectators at the Team Bath Arena saw them emerge victorious from a feisty contest. Wasps advantage overall came from some intense play around the circle feeding into the metronomic shooting of Rachel Dunn.

Round 18 – Team Northumbria 45-60 Wasps Netball

Despite Wasps Netball already guaranteed top spot, last season’s play-off winners showed no mercy on their opponents – with the attacking trio of Tamsin Greenway, Natalie Haythornthwaite and Rachel Dunn increasing their advantage as the game wore on. Victory meant Wasps have won 16 of their 18 games in the regular season – two more victories than last season.

Semi-Final – Wasps Netball 54-39 Team Bath Netball

Wasps Netball secured their spot in the Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final with a resounding win. The reigning champions endured a slow start but took control in the second quarter to build a big advantage. Wasps threatened to run-away with the game but Team Bath stayed in touch, applying defensive pressure from the front through Kadeen Corbin.

Final – Wasps Netball 55-51 Loughborough Lightning

Wasps Netball took home the Vitality Netball Superleague trophy for a second year in a row following a nail-biting win against Loughborough Lightning. The game was hard-fought throughout, with neither team leading by more than six goals at any point – but a series of late turnovers saw Wasps take victory at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Squad

Halimat Adio, Sophia Candappa, Jade Clarke, Rachel Dunn, George Fisher, Amy Flanagan, Tamsin Greenway, Lucy Harris, Natalie Haythornthwaite, Josie Huckle, Hannah Knights, Sam May, Renske Stoltz, Monique Thompson, Fran Williams.

British Fast5 All-Stars Championship

Wasps Netball will be looking to add British Fast5 All-Stars Championship glory to their 2018 Vitality Netball Superleague title.

The best of British netball will be showcased in the short form of the game on Saturday 13th October from 1-6pm.

Wasps took part in the 2017 edition and made it to the semi-finals after winning two (Severn Stars 24-28 Wasps Netball and Wasps Netball 34-21 Surrey Storm) and losing one (Loughborough Lightning 35-23 Wasps Netball) of their double elimination stage matches.

But they narrowly missed out on making the final, losing 31-27 to eventual winners Loughborough Lightning.

Get tickets now and join the fun at the Copper Box Arena!