NETBALL: WASPS Netball mathematically secured their spot in the Final Four play-offs at the weekend following a 35-75 away win against bottom club Celtic Dragons.
Tamsin Greenway’s side travelled to Wales knowing victory would give them an extra week to prepare for the Vitality Netball Superleague play-off finals weekend on Saturday (June 10) with one game of the regular season still to play.
Wasps didn’t disappoint as they asserted their quality in the early stages, and grew their lead as the game went on to record their biggest win of the season and rack up over 1,000 goals for the season.
The Dragons started the game with a quick-fire double to lead 2-0, but that’s about as good as it got for the home side as Wasps finished the first quarter 10 points ahead at 9-19.
Some great defence work from Bongi Msomi and Amy Flanagan kept Dragons at bay as Wasps’ Rachel Dunn and George Fisher racked up the points to hold their lead at 22-30 at half time.
Wasps limited Dragons to just four points in the third quarter, as Rachel Dunn and Natalie Haythornthwaite traded goals to extend the away side’s lead to 28-54.
Greenway’s side grew stronger as the game wore on, with defensive duo Sam May and Amy Flanagan sweeping up loose balls and feeding George Fisher and Rachel Dunn to see Wasps run out convincing winners.
Wasps Director of Netball Greenway said the result sets her side up perfectly as they prepare for the Final Four in two weeks’ time.
She said: “For a brand new club to make the top four in its first season is pretty impressive.
“It was just about getting the job done against Celtic Dragons and making sure our on-court combinations are working they should do ahead of the play-offs.
“I’m happy to get 75 goals on the board and the 40 goal difference is pretty impressive too – I thought Hannah Reid, Sam May and Amy Flanagan were excellent defensively for us.
“It’s really important we are building momentum heading into the Final Four, and we’ll be looking to carry on that winning feeling in our final home game against Team Bath.”
Wasps Netball return to the Ricoh Arena for their final game of the regular super league season when they take on Team Bath on Saturday, June 3 (5pm centre-pass).
