The Fixtures
Surrey Storm v Team Northumbria - Following a run of two successive defeats, Surrey Storm faltered yet again with a 66-58 loss to an ever-improving Manchester Thunder. The reigning champions, who now sit fourth, must go in search of their first win since Round Six as they aim to cling on to the final semi-final spot. Luckily, they face a Team Northumbria side who have picked up just one win all season and come into this game fresh from a 68-46 battering at the hands of a rampant Wasps team. Expect Storm to return to winning ways with an emphatic victory.
- Top Tip: Surrey Storm to win
Loughborough Lightning v Team Bath - Following a 56-47 win over Severn Stars on Saturday, Loughborough Lighting will be hoping to make it ten wins from ten when Team Bath come calling. The visiting team suffered a huge set back in their efforts to catch the top four sides when they fell to a heartbreaking 45-46 defeat to an out-of-form Hertfordshire Mavericks on Friday night. Team Bath will now need to up their game if they are to compete in the end of season showdown, but a win over an unbeaten Lightning side will be no easy task. The girls in blue have had a day more to prepare for this encounter than their Leicestershire rivals, but it could be yet another win for the Superleague’s top team.
- Top Tip: Loughborough Lightning to win
Celtic Dragons v Severn Stars - They may be bottom of the Superleague, but that didn’t stop Celtic Dragons from picking up their first win of the campaign as they narrowly beat Sirens 55-52. Full of confidence, the women from Wales will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories by taking all three points from Severn Stars. The Stars, who were in action on Saturday night, losing to league leaders Loughborough Lighting, may find the Dragons a handful, especially given the home side have had a whole week to prepare for this encounter.
- Top Tip: Celtic Dragons to win
Sirens v Manchester Thunder - Having shocked Surrey Storm in Round Eight, Sirens fell victim to a winless Celtic Dragons just two days later. Despite that defeat, Scotland’s sole Superleague representatives remain well placed for an assault on the top four, especially given Surrey Storms recent run of poor form. However, with Manchester Thunder visiting this Monday, a win might be a little bit too much to ask, as the team currently occupying third look to all but extinguish any hopes Sirens may hold of making June’s semi-finals.
- Top Tip: Manchester Thunder to win
Herefordshire Mavericks v Wasps Netball – Wasps may have suffered a couple of home defeats this season, but their form on the road has been flawless. The Coventry-based outfit have picked up maximum points away from the Ricoh Arena and Tamsin Greenway’s girls will be aiming to keep that run going this Monday. However, their task may have been made a little trickier following their next opponent’s recent morale-boosting win. Hertfordshire Mavericks put in a stellar performance to stun Team Bath and move last year’s beaten semi-finalists to within six points of fourth place. That said, Wasps should still have enough in the tank to inflict a sixth defeat of the campaign on the team from Hatfield.
- Top Tip: Wasps Netball to win
