CLOSING out the weekend of Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) action, Wasps Netball and London Pulse both won in tight contests. Wasps took down Leeds Rhinos by five goals to bounce back from their forgettable loss to Manchester Thunder the day before, whilst the Pulse survived a three-goal thriller against Celtic Dragons.

Coming out after a huge 31-goal defeat at the hands of Manchester Thunder, Wasps were determined to put up a good fight at home against Leeds Rhinos. They lead by a goal at quarter time, but soon it was back all square at the main break. The Rhinos continued the momentum from the third term to score 13 goals to 11 and take a two-goal advantage into the final break, but the home side stormed home in the last to pile on 17 goals to 10 to win by five, 57-52.

Rachel Dunn scored 45 goals from 47 attempts, picking up four rebounds in the process, whilst it was the remarkable work of Josie Huckle up the other end that caught the eye, with five intercepts, three rebounds, two deflections and 11 turnovers. Player of the Match went to Iona Christian in midcourt after she produced 29 feeds and recorded an intercept and a turnover, whilst Lauren Nicholls only committed five penalties while also collecting an intercept and two turnovers.

Sigrid Burger piled on 46 goals from 51 attempts and pulled down six rebounds for the Rhinos, with the feeding combination of Amelia Hall (25 feeds) and Brie Tyler Grierson (19) strong, but the latter only shot five goals from 16 attempts. In defence, Tuaine Keenan had three intercepts, three deflections and three turnovers.

Leeds Rhinos have the quicker turnaround to play on Friday night against Loughborough Lightning, whilst Wasps will face off on Sunday against Surrey Storm.

London Pulse survived a scare against Celtic Dragons to post a three-goal win on the road. The Pulse faced a two-goal deficit at quarter time, but then found a way to step up to the plate in the second term and take a two-goal lead themselves. They built on that in the third term to lead by three, and then thanks to an even 12-goal apiece quarter, were able to come away with the 52-49 victory.

Remarkably the Player of the Match went to the losing side with goal keeper Shaquanda Greene-Noel picking up three rebounds, two intercepts, three deflections and six turnovers in a standout performance. She teamed up well with Annabel Roddy (three intercepts, four deflections and four turnovers), whilst Georgia Rowe (32 goals from 33 attempts) was lively in attack.

Olivia Tchine put up 39 goals from 41 attempts and a rebound for the Pulse, while Sacha McDonald managed 13 from 15, as well as 18 feeds, two intercepts, three deflections and two turnovers. In defence, Lindsay Keable had seven deflections and four turnovers, whilst Zara Everitt had four deflections, one intercept and three turnovers.

London Pulse play Severn Stars on Saturday night at the University of Worchester Arena, whilst Celtic Dragons have the bye until Saturday, May 7 when they lock horns with the Stars in a bottom two clash.