Team Bath and Loughborough Lightning also pick up opening wins
Sunday 19 February 2017 11:17, UK
Defending champions Surrey Storm began the 2017 Vitality Superleague season with a 58-40 victory over new franchise Severn Stars.
After the season began with Hertfordshire Mavericks winning against Team Northumbria on Friday night, there were three more matches on Saturday.
The final match of the weekend is live on Sky Sports on Tuesday, with two new franchises meeting when Sirens host Wasps at a sold-out Emirates Arena, but it was three of last season's top five who put down an early marker.
Champions Surrey Storm have undergone a host of changes this summer with several players joining Tamsin Greenway in heading to Wasps, but under new head coach Tania Hoffman they impressed with a win over the third of the new franchises.
Severn Stars have put together an impressive squad but they struggled for consistency at Surrey Sports Village as the hosts overcame a keenly contested first quarter to eventually run away with the win.
The Stars made a bright start and led 11-10 after the opening 15 minutes before a dominant second quarter, led by Katie Harris, saw them open up a 10-goal lead by half-time.
With the Stars chasing the game, Storm were able to pick off the visitors with goal shooter Megan Craig dominant under the post as Hoffman's team cruised to a comfortable win.
Stars next face Loughborough Lightning at Super 10s in Birmingham next Saturday while Storm face Manchester Thunder in a repeat of last season's Grand Final.
Lightning and Thunder met in Loughborough in another high-profile clash on Saturday and it was Lightning who emerged victorious thanks to a dominant defensive display that saw new signing Vicki Oyesola named Player of the Match.
Karen Atkinson's side will look to improve on an 80% shooting record but a host of impressive interceptions and turnovers set up the 59-45 victory over Thunder.
After a dominant first half from the hosts, Karen Greig's new-look Thunder shook off their inexperience to close an eight-goal gap to just three heading into the final 15 minutes.
That gap closed to just one early in the fourth period but Loughbrough regrouped and with 17-year-old Chloe Essam making an impressive debut at goal attack from the replacements bench it was Lightning who pulled away to claim the victory.
Last season's bronze medal winners Team Bath were the first winners of the day, recovering from a slow start to beat Celtic Dragons 51-41 at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.
Dragons, who finished seventh last season with just two victories, began on the front foot and led 11-10 at the end of the opening quarter.
A strong second quarter set the tone for Bath, who took a 26-17 lead into the break which extended to a 10-goal advantage by the end of the third period.
Despite a keenly contested fourth quarter ending all square, Bath claimed the first away victory over the Superleague season.
Watch Sirens v Wasps on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports 2 on Tuesday from 7.15pm. You can follow all the Vitality Superleague action on Sky Sports Mix through the season and across our Sky Sports platforms. Follow us @SkyNetball
