WASPS Netball head coach Mel Mansfield says her side are en route to meet their targets, after a 56-41 win over Strathclyde Sirens in Glasgow achieved a first-place finish.
The victory means Wasps have won their last six in a row, and can make it seven in the final round of the regular season away to Severn Stars on Saturday (6pm).
A first-place finish confirms a home semi-final awaits them in a couple of weeks time, courtesy of a victory that they were able to see out upon taking a second-quarter lead.
Head coach Mel Mansfield was keen to secure a semi-final at the Ricoh Arena with victory, and was left pleased by the performance of her side to do just that.
“It was an interesting game, we wanted to get through it and build into our semi-final and we did that.
“It was close but we won each quarter. We knew it was going to be tough physically, but we played through that.
“The journey up to Glasgow is always difficult, but every player had to put in a good shift today and I’m really pleased with how Tamsin Moala stepped up.
“It’s all about the semi-final now for us and we’re moving well toward our goals.”
The two sides exchanged goals in an end-to-end opening quarter that was edged by Wasps, who took a 10-8 lead heading into the second following Jade Clarke’s mid-court interception.
Sirens levelled early in the second-quarter, which prompted Mansfield to throw Moala into the fray at goal attack.
Even when Wasps re-took the lead, the hosts had the answers to peg them back.
But the Strathclyde resolve was soon broken when Bongi Msomi, Moala and Dunn all chipped in with goals, whilst Dunn remained a threat from distance, to help the visitors into a 27-21 lead at the break.
The hosts hit back early in the third-quarter and then forced a turnover upon the restart, with their intentions firmly set on narrowing the deficit.
Hannah Knights and Josie Huckle helped shore up the defence as Wasps kept their lead intact, allowing Moala and Dunn to fire the goals down the opposite end of the court.
From there, Wasps took an 11-goal advantage into the final-quarter, and quickly built upon it with Katie Harris brought back into the action.
Sam May and Chloe Essam also took to the court, as Wasps saw out the victory by 15 goals.