The halfway point of the Super League season has arrived and the top four teams have established an early lead in the league. Surrey Storm, London Pulse and Manchester Thunder are all level on points, with Loughborough Lightning just a few points behind them. Each team has had one opportunity to compete against each other, and Celtic Dragons, who are sitting at the bottom, have taken the opportunity and the experience of their opening few games in the competition.
The pull of the top four teams looks strong and it will be a difficult task for the chasing pack to catch up in the second half of the season. However, with teams filled with new faces, this season can be seen as a platform for building for future seasons.
London Pulse, Manchester Thunder and Loughborough Lightning have all already had opportunities to claim important wins, beating out Severn Stars, Strathclyde Sirens and the Celtic Dragons, respectively. Despite the London Pulse hitting a bump in the road in their last outing against Mavericks, they have rallied behind their shooter Olivia Tchine, who has become a key player in the side’s game plan. With 301 goals to her name this season, she is sure to be a threat in the closing weeks of the season.
Now that the halfway point of the season has been reached, Loughborough Lightning have a chance to take a breather and focus on the semi final plans ahead. It is up to coach Vic Burgess to ready her side for the road ahead, which includes another game with Manchester Thunder, and pivotal fixtures against Surrey Storm and London Pulse.
Netball Super League is a professional netball league in England that has been running since 2016. Composed of 10 teams, the league takes place from February to June each year with the top four teams making the semi-finals. The semi-finals take place in May and the grand final takes place in June. The teams compete for the Super League grand title and the chance to represent England in European and world competitions.