Karen Greig proud of Manchester Thunder after win over Wasps
Wednesday 6 June 2018 10:15, UK
Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Greig was proud of her side's display after their emotional victory over high-flying Wasps.
The top five of the Vitality Superleague are now separated by just six points following the weekend's results and Greig was thrilled to see the Thunder gain a semblance of revenge for their semi-final defeat to Wasps last year with the 53-42 win.
"We knew they were going to put up a good fight against us, but to come to an arena like this on an occasion like this and turn that result around and win by 13 goals, I'm really proud of the girls," she said.
"We were a bit slow to get out of the blocks in the first quarter, I thought we gave them a bit too much space and we weren't challenging a lot of ball.
"So, harsh words at the end of the quarter and then we really lifted our intensity and once we started playing to our own strengths and giving the ball to Joyce [Mvula], there was no stopping them in attack. I thought Joyce was immense tonight.
"Over the last couple of games, we've really started to find some good form. We've got a tough run-in, we've got Mavericks next game and that's not going to be easy, so this is a really good foundation for us.
"We had it pegged as a must-win and we've done that but we have to step it up and back it up next week because if we don't back it up next week then tonight means nothing."
The game at the Manchester Arena came just over a year after the suicide attack in the building that killed 23 people.
"The atrocity of last year hit home hard for a lot of the squad," added Greig. "To come back here almost a year after what happened - that win was for those affected last year."
The defeat was Wasps' second straight after 12 consecutive wins and head coach Tamsin Greenway admitted she needs to inject more physicality into training to prepare her side for what they are coming up against on court.
"The 12 wins in a row have probably hindered us in a way because we're comfortable where we're at, and that's not to say we didn't go out to play today, we just didn't play well enough," she said.
"Everyone's trying to fight us and we're not dealing well with the physicality and we've got to look at that. We had too much ball taken off us from the edge of the circle. If I was looking and we can't get a centre pass out we can't get the ball through the court, then you'd go 'fine'.
"But most of our errors are on the edge of the circle. We're getting the ball there - we've got four international players who should be finishing off the job for us.
"You have to suck it up. Defensively we don't play the tight man-on-man and we've struggled with that the last two weeks and that's something we have to deal with.
"I don't think there were necessarily unfair calls today - a lot of ours were turning and moaning already before it happened - and everyone put their hands up. I have to make sure I address it in training and make sure they're getting the right amount of pressure."
Our live coverage continues on Monday, June 11 when Severn Stars host Sirens live on Sky Sports Mix, channel 121, which is free for all Sky customers, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action from 6.30pm
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