Netball Tremendous League: Surrey Storm, London Pulse, Loughborough Lightning and Manchester Thunder set for semi-finals | Netball Information

Vitality Netball Tremendous League semi-finals: London Pulse vs Surrey Storm (6.30pm), Loughborough Lightning vs Manchester Thunder (8pm); watch each semi-finals dwell on Sky Sports activities Combine and Sky Sports activities’ YouTube channel on Friday, June 9

Surrey Storm’s Mikki Austin is relishing being again within the Netball Tremendous League semi-finals (Pic: Ben Lumby)

After 20 rounds, the Vitality Netball Tremendous League has reached the semi-final stage – and for one membership particularly it affords an opportunity to reclaim a few of their former glory.

The ultimate 4 sees table-toppers London Pulse welcome Surrey Storm to their dwelling enviornment on the Copper Field, and reigning champions Manchester Thunder journey all the way down to Leicestershire to tackle Loughborough Lightning.

Storm have reached this stage for the primary time since 2016. That yr ended with them profitable the Grand Remaining for the second time in a row, having reached 4 different finals previous to that, and director of netball Mikki Austin admits vaulting themselves again into title rivalry has taken them abruptly.

Austin instructed Sky Sports activities: “I am unsure any of it is actually going to settle in till some level in the summertime once I’m sitting with my household going, ‘are you able to consider we did that?’ It has been a very long time coming.”

“We are able to modify rights and wrongs inside our personal group and give attention to what we now have to be higher at, so we are able to hopefully come out the appropriate aspect of a consequence for a semi.”

For Pulse, this marks solely their second semi-final look after ending within the prime 4 within the desk for the primary time in 2022. On that event, they fell quick to Loughborough and now face three exceptionally skilled sides with earlier league titles underneath their belts.

Nevertheless, they’ve solely been crushed twice within the common season – in Spherical 4 towards Manchester Thunder, taking place 58-51, and in Spherical 20 towards Saracens Mavericks the place they misplaced 52-46.

London Pulse have made the semi-finals for less than the second time (Pic: Ben Lumby)

Pulse have been boosted by England duo Jade Clarke and Chelsea Pitman becoming a member of them for the 2023 season as properly.

From Pitman’s perspective, a whole lot of their success this yr has been all the way down to having a superb mixture of youth and expertise in Pulse’s squad, however she added: “As a collective, we wish to achieve success, and I feel that overrides every little thing.”

Clarke acknowledged the energy of their top-four rivals too “Any workforce can beat different groups on the day, so I feel that is meant we have by no means bought forward of ourselves.”

Elsewhere, Loughborough – champions two years in the past – stay in sturdy rivalry for this yr’s remaining. They’ve solely misplaced three video games this season, however two of these got here towards London Pulse in Rounds 9 and 19.

Loughborough’s Mary Cholhok is the main scorer within the Netball Tremendous League this yr (Pic: Ben Lumby)

If Pulse beat Storm within the semis and it results in a Pulse-Lightning remaining, it might be a difficult recreation for the latter. Nevertheless, Loughborough has been an influential aspect within the historical past of the Netball Tremendous League, they usually proceed to look sturdy.

Their dominant purpose shooter, Mary Cholhok, has the ability to disturb defenders along with her 89.18 purpose share making her the main purpose scorer this yr with 808 targets so far.

Excelling on the defensive aspect, in the meantime, is England worldwide Fran Williams, who sits third within the rankings for probably the most intercepts with a powerful 55 this season. Having two gamers of this customary leaves Lightning in a really sturdy place forward of the ultimate.

It’s no shock that Thunder, who clinched a fourth Netball Tremendous League title final yr, are again within the semi-finals. They’ve been within the competitors because it was launched and are probably the most influential, in addition to profitable, groups.

Lenize Potgieter has been one in all Manchester Thunder’s stars this yr (Pic: Ben Lumby)

With a powerful academy producing proficient gamers, in addition to the addition of worldwide stars resembling Lenize Potgieter from South Africa and England’s Natalie Metcalf, Thunder have continued to place in sturdy performances throughout every spherical on this yr’s league.

They’ve gained their final 5 matches within the run-up to the semi-finals. Nevertheless, they weren’t profitable final time they performed Lightning, shedding 65-57 in Spherical 14. Nevertheless, Thunder will take solace from the very fact they have been profitable towards Lightning in Spherical 5, profitable 62-55.

Watch all the Netball Tremendous League semi-final motion dwell this Friday on Sky Sports activities Combine from 6pm. Each matches might be accessible to stream on Sky Sports activities’ YouTube channel as properly.