Wasps shock Manchester Thunder with victory

Thunder kept the starting VII that featured in the last three games with injured Rebekah Airey making a return.

It was clear from the first minute that this game was going to be neck-and-neck. An equal score throughout the majority of the first quarter, Wasps were smothering Thunder’s spaces whilst Thunder were making some great interceptions.

Confident Eleanor Cardwell scored a brilliant seventh goal which seemed to spur the team who then managed a turnover.

Many of Thunder and Wasps players train together for England so all secrets are in the open between both teams and with so many match-ups, the contest is not being pushed to the level that Thunder are used to playing at. The first quarter ended with Wasps having a small lead of two goals 9-11.

The second quarter slipped away from Thunder with scrappy turnovers and space being encroached upon by Wasps.

Captain Emma Dovey was made to work hard but made some great interceptions, holding her nerve then pouncing at the last second. These class moves, however, were then mirrored by Wasps causing frustration amongst the team and Kerry Almond received a caution for delaying play.

Caroline O’Hanlon was brought on at wing attack but the change didn't seem to affect Wasps who continue to widen the gap between themselves and Thunder. Thunder’s hesitancy in attack and lack of decision-making allowed Wasps to take the lead 24-17 going into half-time.

Dovey said: "I just think there’s far too many errors across the court right from the first whistle, we’re not learning from our mistakes and we just need to take that into the second half."

Following a stern word from Head Coach Karen Greig, Thunder came out to the third quarter with a bit more fighting power that seemed to be lacking in the second.

With Wasps playing such experienced players like Rachel Dunn and Katie Harris who know how to pile on the pressure, Thunder found themselves making panicked, rushed decisions which is the opposite of the cool, calm and collected style normally played.

Dovey managed another couple of interceptions to stop numerous goal scoring opportunities from Wasps but sloppy passes kept giving Wasps the chance to correct any previous missed goals.

Halfway through the third quarter, Thunder seemed to suddenly step it up a gear and manage to score  three in a row, largely unchallenged. This gained confidence saw great quick passes between O’Hanlon and Cardwell, and unexpected catches despite being sandwiched by Wasps defence. Thunder ended the third quarter assuredly with an equal 13 goals scored but still behind at 30-37.

Thunder entered the final quarter with fire in their stomachs, continuing the game style that is more accustomed to Thunder.

Berri Neil was brought on with just over seven minutes to go but was unable make a dent into the lead Wasps had sustained from the second quarter.

Thunder just could not seem to do enough to close wasps down and break those connections and despite another equal scoring round of 14 goals each, the final score was 53-44 to Wasps.

Karen Greig said: "I'm really disappointed, I think the girls are as well so it’s back to the drawing board and rockets up some backsides I think.

"We’re making tired errors, sloppy errors that you look at it and you can’t break line on a centre pass, you’re giving the ball away, last quarter we pulled it to six and we know that we can put scoreboard pressure on a team, we’ve got every chance of pulling back because we’re a team that are capable of doing that.

"Then we have a break of the line and then a missed shot, you put yourself down to 10/11 goals down again straight away and that’s tough to come back from when you’re only playing 12-minute matches. I think we’ve got to put ourselves under some real pressure at training this week. I think that intensity needs to be there; the intensity is lacking from us.

"We played in the second half like how Manchester Thunder can play, with that intensity and purpose and got the ball moving and that’s something that’s been lacking over the last two days so I think we’ve got to revisit that."

Netball UK Player of the Match: Fran Williams (Wasps).

Match report from Manchester Thunder.

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