As teams took to the court at last week’s Rise Again netball festival in Manchester, it was clear something significant

England’s historic Commonwealth gold in the netball on the Gold Coast was a long time coming – and for no one more so than Jade Clarke.

Manchester Thunder continued their unbeaten Superleague start with a hard-fought 56-47 victory over Loughborough Lightning.

Manchester Thunder netball coach Tracey Neville is hoping that their Superleague semi-final with Hertfordshire Mavericks will be a ground-breaking Northern sporting event.