Wasps beat Team Bath to extend advantage at the top of the Vitality Superleague
Severn Stars also victorious, picking up second win of the season with impressive win in Glasgow to sink Strathclyde Sirens
Saturday 23 February 2019 00:00, UK
Wasps opened up a six-point gap at the top of the Vitality Superleague and extended their perfect start to six successive wins with a 57-46 win over Team Bath.
With Mavericks and Thunder not in action until Monday, the back-to-back champions took full advantage to add another win to their pursuit of another Superleague title thanks to a crucial second quarter.
Also on Friday night, Stars ensured the long trip north was worthwhile, beating Sirens 56-37 at the Emirates Arena to pick up maximum points for only the second time this season to join the Scottish franchise on six points.
But it is Wasps who continue to take the headlines, running out comfortable winners in the end to heap the pressure on Mavericks who host Pulse and Thunder who travel to Wales to face Celtic Dragons.
In Bath, it was the hosts, who welcomed back Roses star defender Eboni Usoro-Brown for the first time since Super 10, who made the fast start, opening up an early 9-6 advantage against the league leaders, who have made hard work of their opening quarters this season.
But Mel Mansfield's team rallied to go in level at the end of the first 15 minutes and returned to produce the crucial period of the game, a 17-7 run in the second quarter was enough to open up a 10-goal advantage that Bath never looked like closing.
Amy Flanagan's early interception set the tone for Wasps decisive period and with Jade Clarke and Bongi Msomi beginning to assert their authority over a Bath mid-court that was still without Serena Guthrie as the visitors pulled clear.
It was honours even in the third quarter but only after Bath had threatened a thrilling comeback. A fast start with Kim Commane at the heart of things saw Bath draw to within six goals but that was as good as it got.
Rachel Dunn and Katie Harris found their range again and Wasps reestablished their 10-goal which they eventually extended to 11 in the quarter but again Bath made the champions work for every goal.
Anna Stembridge's team started the final 15 impressively and by the midway point of the quarter had again reduced the deficit to six, but Wasps chose their moment to strike and by the final whistle had secured all three points.
North of the border, Sirens' latest initiative saw the fans in attendance donating towards the local supermarket's food drive and while off the court was a success it wasn't to be on it.
Stars have been competitive in most of their matches this season and their fast start set them on the way to three points for the first time since Round Three.
Sirens had returned to winning way at Pulse on Monday night, their second win of the season, but having picked up points on their own long journey were forced to see the visitors come away with the spoils a few days later.
Both Sirens and Stars have six points this season and such is the competitive nature of the Superleague they both remain just three points outside the top four despite sitting seventh and ninth in the table.
Watch more Vitality Netball Superleague action when Surrey Storm take on Loughborough Lightning on Saturday, February 23, live on Sky Sports Mix from 5.45pm. Also, Sky Sports will be showing every game of the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup in July.
