Netball Super League: London Pulse beat Loughborough Lightning to reach Grand Final while Manchester Thunder into preliminary final

Player of the match, Pulse’s Olivia Tchine: “I don’t think it has sunk in yet but we had to work hard for that. We didn’t have the best start – I don’t know why. The fact we were still able to come out and grind showed we really wanted this.

“We haven’t been a grand final for two years so it feels good to be back. We came into the changing room and it was like ‘do we want this or not’ and we came out to show it. In order for us to compete with the big teams we had to show we wanted it.”

Pulse director of netball, Sam Bird: “I am buzzing after that terrible start we had. I am really proud of the players for the grit and determination to pull it back.

“By half-time we knew the tide had turned. Defensively we were like a brick wall and it’s such a big agile box which is difficult for any team to break through. We’ll give our best against whoever we play next.”

Lightning head coach Vic Burgess: “I thought we had a good start but the third quarter we were hesitant in our plan and made errors.

“We had opportunities and didn’t take them. We have another crack again next week in the preliminary final. We need to keep being consistent and execute things in attack and defence.

“There’s lots positives and it was down to very small margins tonight. It could have gone either way, so we have to make sure our intensity is high and having that belief.”