Superleague 2021: Loughborough and Wasps tighten grip on top four | Netball News

Wasps and Loughborough held on to the form they won to secure their places in the top four of Vitality Superleague’s season on Sunday night.

Team Bath has the same perfect record, but Wasps and Lightning – who have gone out in two of the last three finals – put three more points on the table to sit on either side of the title choices. .

Both teams were pushed all the way, Lightning with a determined and improved London Pulse side with Leeds Rhinos, badly injured, who are still facing good luck in their Superleague season.

The tournament continues Monday with two live matches Sky Sports Center and Mix from 5pm. First, the London Pulse return to court and face the Celtic Dragons before Leeds Rhinos Netball meet Strathclyde.

Wasps up to a third after seeing Rhinos

Despite being two-time champions, the Wasps entered the season a bit under the radar, however, they recorded their third consecutive win to move up to third place in the table with Leeds Rhinos unbeaten. cause panic.

Rachel Dunn and Katie Harris create a strong attacking unit and the pair of 2017 and 2018 Grand Final winners helped get off to a quick start as Rhinos slowly turned over an early ball. Dan Ryan’s side set up the ship but Harris and Dunn finished the opening quarter in an even more impressive fashion when Rhinos ’shooting accuracy abandoned them.

In a one-sided contest the Wasps opened up a 12-goal win by the end of the first quarter, but as they have done this season Leeds changed and brought their Sienna Rushton entered a reliable presence for them under the post.

Rushton connected well with Rhea Dixon as Rhinos began to slip away at the Wasps advantage, Mel Mansfield ‘s side perhaps feeling the impact of a hard and impressive win over the Manchester Thunder on Saturday night.

Ryan’s team closed to within five before half-time, winning the second quarter and then keeping up with their more established rivals in the third period for a goal-scoring run until experience was revealed.

The Wasps extended their lead to nine goals with a strong finish, with Harris taking most of the shooting burden as Dunn offered a more creative presence that allowed her attacking partner. success and Christian Iona invisibly kept them ticking over from the middle of the court.

As is so often the case, the third quarter ‘competition’ was enough to be sure, giving Wasps a big enough lead to keep competitive Rhinos at bay and excluding other wins to show they are likely to be in the top four again.

Sirens and Mavs share points with the first draw

In the opening game of the day, Strathclyde Sirens continued their impressive start to the season by battling back in the quarter-finals to win a lottery, the first in this season’s competition, the against the four best Saracens Mavericks hopefuls.

After four quarters of defensive management, where neither side could earn a big win, it was no surprise that the teams were unable to split and share the points, with the draws in action this season this is part of the amended league rules.

For the first time this season, Kat Ratnapala had started with what many consider Mavs’ first choice, and many expected expectations from them. Jo Trip returned at GD, Jodie Gibson moved to WD, Gabby Marshall held the C bib from the outside and Ine-Mari Venter from South Africa started the hunt.

Meanwhile, Sirens pre-match news announced a spell on the elbow for Lyndsey Gallagher, who needs action on her knee, which meant Bethan Goodwin stayed at GA.

After the first 24 minutes with a low score, with Mavericks maintaining an 18-15 half-time lead, the third quarter saw both coaches their attacks in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

Sirens coach Karen Atkinson kept it simple and made a direct exchange with Nwin McCall replacing Goodwin, while Ratnapala put Mavs cards heavily before being pushed to another change, when Venter landed sudden.

But one outside was unable to prove themselves and four goals separated them into the quarter-finals. Goodwin and Venter both returned, with the first one showing the benefits of her conversations with Atkinson and Venter going in unnoticed as well. However, those final levels belonged to one player – Towera Vinkhumbo.

Vinkhumbo hadn’t missed every game, she finished her day’s work with eight ideas and two wakes, and it was her turns that ensured Sirens grabbed a draw, and near a memorable victory. , at full-time whistle.

Pulsed Test Lightning

Loughborough Lightning won their sixth win of the season in the second game of the afternoon, but they were not all away against a much better London Pulse that came close to shock but is still unbeaten.

It took the league leaders 20 minutes to move forward, and although they did not relinquish the lead after that, Sara Bayman ‘s side had to solve hard questions and keep their foot to the floor until the final whistle.

Halimat Adio originally matched Mary Cholhok in the ring and the Pulse captain worked very well with Zara Everitt, to prevent Lightning ‘s fluency.

At the other end, Sigi Burger and Kira Rothwell had an eye and the London outfit had an 11-10 win at a well-deserved quarter of the time.

With Adio and Everitt in the belt, Bayman introduced Suzie Liverseidge at GA, helping Lightning to turn the tables and open four-pointers at the time.

Both teams fell so hard again after the break, and although Pulse went after it after all, Lightning finally found the extra gear they had been looking for and gave half of them 28-goal the product.

“We want stress situations because we need them and we got one today,” said Bayman. “A few of our girls were getting a few days off and it’s good that we can get through that.

“I thought Beth Cobden, for parts of that game, one-handedly kept us inside.”

For the London Pulse, it’s a quick turn as they take on the Celtic Dragons on Monday night, while Loughborough Lightning can put their feet up to Round Seven.

Sky Sports is your home of online football. The Vitality Netball Superleague continues Monday, with two live matches on Sky Sports Arena and Mix, as well as the Sky Sports YouTube channel from 5pm.