Vitality Roses secure 5th spot at FAST5 Netball World Series 2024
Image credit: Michael Bradley England Netball
Earlier this month, England Netball travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand for the third year to compete in the FAST5 Netball World Series 2024.
The FAST5 competition is a shorter, faster- paced version of the game with only 5 players of each side, three different scoring zones, power players and unlimited rolling substitutions.
Over two days, England played six games against Jamaica, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Uganda and Jamaica again in their final match.
After losing their opening match to South Africa 25-33 following a six- point shot within the power play period in the final seconds of their game, the Vitality Roses gave it their all to claim their first victory of the series against Jamaica.
Unfortunately, the winning streak did not continue, as the Vitality Roses then lost the remaining of their 3 group stage games against Uganda, Australia and hosts New Zealand.
Facing the Sunshine Girls again in the fifth/ sixth spot play off and final game of the weekend, the Vitality Roses were determined to finish in success and grab the 5th place spot in the FAST5 Netball World Series.
Following a tight final game, England Roses took the win after Jamaica’s Amanda Pinkey missed three attempts to score a six pointer in the fourth quarter Power Play minutes.
Captain Zara Everitt, Harriet Jones and Sophie Kelly earned themselves Player of the Match awards across the series.
Here’s the Vitality Rose’s Instagram round-up:
The Vitality Roses hope to continue their triumph over Jamaica in the four- match Vitality Netball Horizon Series, beginning in Manchester, and ending in Kingston, Jamaica for the second leg of the series.
Words by Rosie Brabrook