Netball round-up: Wasps beat Surrey Storm in Vitality Superleague
Sunday 2 April 2017 14:38, UK
Wasps ended Surrey Storm's perfect start to the Vitality Superleague season, while Team Northumbria beat Severn Stars to claim their first win.
Tamsin Greenway took her Wasps team to Surrey Sports Park, the scene of so much of her success, to take on the in-form defending champions who had begun the season with six straight wins.
In New Zealander shooter Megan Craig the hosts had one of Superleague's most impressive players so far this season but on her return to Storm it was Rachel Dunn who impressed en route to the visitors' 58-51 victory.
Former Storm duo Josie Huckle and Hannah Reid also impressed in defence to inflict a first defeat on Tania Hoffman's side, who remain top despite the defeat.
Loughborough Lightning can take top spot on their own if they beat Celtic Dragons in Wales on Monday night, while Wasps move to within three points of Storm after a performance that thrilled Greenway.
"We needed a performance and I think we finally answered some of the questions that we have been asking of ourselves," she said.
"We put a lot of the responsibility on the team, it wasn't perfect but it felt like it finally all clicked together tonight.
"I was impressed with how we won the ball all over the court, we stuck to task, carried on all the way through to the end of the game and that was great to see.
"It was always going to be difficult coming back here but I think mentally our team turned a corner tonight and it just shows how good we are away from home at the minute."
Also on Saturday there was a memorable occasion in the North East as Team Northumbria claimed their first victory of the season with a storming 22-goal win over Severn Stars.
The Stars had beaten the Sirens on Monday night but perhaps feeling the pace of two games in five days they were unable to live with the home side, who delivered on the promise they have shown despite six straight defeats.
Northumbria raced out of the blocks and with a five-goal lead already in hand they won the third quarter 13-3, ultimately running out 61-39 winners.
The win means it is just Celtic Dragons who are without a victory so far this season and they host Loughborough in one of two games on Monday night.
The other match sees in-form Manchester Thunder host Hertfordshire Mavericks - a game you can see on Sky Sports Mix from 7.15pm on Monday night.
The opening game of the weekend took place on Friday night as Sirens returned to winning ways at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow with a fine victory over Team Bath.
After a rollercoaster first half - Sirens won the first quarter by five goals only to see Bath win the second by seven - it was the hosts who prevailed with a 51-45 success to grab just their second win of the season.
Coverage of the Superleague continues on Monday night when Manchester Thunder host Hertfordshire Mavericks on Sky Sports Mix from 7.15pm
