Team Bath 46 – 57 Wasps Netball

Wasps Netball made it six successive wins to begin the season by chalking up a 57-46 victory against Team Bath.

Mel Mansfield’s team produced a stellar second-quarter performance to pull away from their hosts and resisted a second-half comeback to secure three points.

The win sees Wasps extend their advantage at the top of the Superleague to six points – with rivals Manchester Thunder and Saracens Mavericks in action on Monday night.

Mansfield said: “We drew the first-quarter but I was really impressed with how we pushed on in the second, got our connections working and took control.

“Bath looked like coming back into it a couple of times but I never felt like we were going to lose the game. Not all the changes we made out there in the second-half worked and we’ll be looking into that at training next week.”

“The team showed a lot of guts and resilience today and I’m really pleased with the performance.”

The hosts enjoyed a quick start to the match, forcing an early turnover and racing to a two-goal lead.

Wasps came back through former Bath star Rachel Dunn, who linked up well with Jade Clarke to bring their side level.

Goal Keeper Hannah Knights was tasked with containing Beryl Daisy and fiercely contested every ball in the shooting circle.

Both teams jostled for control throughout the first-quarter and a goal just before the buzzer from Dunn brought the first 15 minutes to a close at 11 goals each.

Amy Flanagan set the tone for the second-quarter with a well-timed interception in the first minute leading to another Dunn goal.

The mid-court duo of Bongi Msomi and Clarke then started to take control, moving the ball quickly and creating opportunities in the final third.

Wasps tallied six unanswered goals to build the first significant lead of the game, forcing changes from the home side to try and halt the free-flowing Black and Gold attack.

The hosts rallied to start the third-quarter, with their offence firing on all cylinders and capitalising on turnovers to reduce the deficit to six.

But Wasps’ defensive trio of Knights, Fran Williams and Sam May responded by producing defensive stops to maintain their side’s lead.

Katie Harris helped her team regain their momentum and led a series of solid attacking possession which saw Wasps regain their ten-goal advantage going into the fourth-quarter.

Bath again started the quarter well and threatened to make a dramatic comeback. Wasps held off the hosts and re-established their foothold in the game, with goals from Dunn to calm the nerves.

The Black and Golds stretched their lead to 11 to close the game and extend their perfect start to the season.

Wasps Netball’s next fixture will see them face Strathclyde Sirens at Ricoh Arena on Saturday 2 March (7pm centre-pass).

Q1: 11-11
Q2: 18-28
Q3: 32-42
Q4: 46-57

Wasps starting seven: GK Josie Huckle; GD Hannah Knights; WD Amy Flanagan; C Jade Clarke; WA Bongi Msomi; GA Katie Harris; GS Rachel Dunn

Used substitutes: Sophia Candappa (WA); Fran Williams (WD); Sam May (GD)