Vitality Netball Superleague Round 6 preview
Tuesday 19 February 2019 09:46, UK
There are still two games remaining in the Vitality Superleague, following a weekend that saw one 100 per cent record fall - but will another remain intact?
The Superleague weekend began on Saturday with three thrilling games as Manchester Thunder's perfect start to the season was halted by an inspired Loughborough Lightning.
Our live Sky Sports action saw Saracens Mavericks draw level with Thunder and Wasps after victory over injury-hit Team Bath, while Surrey Storm's revival continued with a win at Severn Stars.
Wasps put their perfect record on the line at Celtic Dragons while Sirens make the long trip to London to take on Pulse at Round Six reaches its conclusion.
Celtic Dragons vs Wasps Netball, Monday at 7pm
Wasps were given the "toughest test yet" against Mavericks, according to their head coach Mel Mansfield, and once again the difference arrived in the third set of 15 minutes.
Mansfield nailed her tactical changes by bringing on Fran Williams at GD and player-of-the-match Sophia Candappa at WA.
"We've had strong third-quarters in each of our last three games and that shined through again," said the head coach.
"In training we have been working hard on our fitness levels and maintaining performance levels. Having a tight game like this will be really good for us, the team will have learnt a lot about themselves."
Celtic Dragons got back to winning ways as they secured their second victory of the season by 50-46 on the road at Strathclyde Sirens.
The Welsh side won just two games all term last season so clearly are developing under the guidance of Tania Hoffman.
"We feel confident, we are now training really hard and the structures have changed this year but not only that it is a completely new culture, new coach so it's definitely positive," said Chelsea Lewis.
However, that confidence will be tested to the max this round as they're facing a powerful and hungry Wasps outfit.
London Pulse vs Strathclyde Sirens, Monday at 7.30pm
Superleague newcomers London Pulse find themselves bottom of the table after suffering a 69-49 defeat to Storm in Round 5.
It's a place no team wants to be and they'll be another side looking to home comforts in order to help deliver a victory.
In the last round, injured captain Ama Agbeze watched from the sideline and found that difficult to do.
"It's quite frustrating as we've talked about things in training and we don't always do them," said Agbeze.
"We turn over a lot of ball but we rarely take it down and score. So it's just frustrating also not to be able to play and have an effect on it."
Despite the vocal backing last week, Sirens also suffered a defeat leaving them ninth in the table.
Sirens were unable to convert a single-goal lead at the interval into a victory against Dragons. But, the physicality and between the two gave fans a gripping watch as possession was fiercely contested throughout.
Watch more Vitality Netball Superleague action when Saracens Mavericks host Team Bath Netball on Saturday February 16, live on Sky Sports Mix and Arena from 5.45pm. Also, Sky Sports will be showing every game of the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup in July.
