George calls for Smashers to keep up fine form for title push in NBL finals day

The league is in its maiden year and Surrey Smashers have established themselves as firm favourites to take the crown at finals day at the K2 in Crawley on June 7.

That comes after they finished the league in pole position – winning four of their five matches – and they now face a semi-final match with Loughborough Sport.

The two teams have already met this season with Surrey saving ten match points to eventually finish 3-2 winners.

But, with the high-profile absence of Gabby Adcock, George knows his team will have to be at their very best to get the win.

“Loughborough are a strong team and the last time we played them it was a thriller of a match that we managed to win 3-2,” he said.

“So we know what they are capable of and that we will have to be at our very best to match them and beat them.

“I think we have to be looking at it as a match we can win because at the end of the day we want to be the champions.

“But they are going to be out for revenge and will want to get back at us for losing last time around.

“So we have got to make sure that we are ready for them and deal with the fact that we won’t have Gabby (Adcock) available to us.

“I think one of our strengths is that we have good players throughout though and people ready to come in and step straight up to the mark.”

However, while four wins from five have made Surrey Smashers favourites, George is keen to avoid any complacency as the league reaches its climax.

“I am really pleased with how the season has been going this year and I think we have played really well,” he added.

“We finished the league at the top of the table and that was the goal going in so to accomplish that is great.

“To finish the way we did was really pleasing but now we have got to erase the board now and start again.

“You have to take confidence from what we did but at the end of the day we still have plenty of work to do.

“We have a good set of performances behind us so preparations will be more of the same and it’s a case of if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it.”

The UK’s first ever National Badminton League (NBL) season comes to a thrilling finale on Sunday, 7 June, at K2 Crawley. Tickets are now available at nationalbadmintonleague.co.uk

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