Vitality Roses finish fifth at FAST5 Netball World Series

A young Vitality Roses team finished fifth at the FAST5 Netball World Series 2024 after a hard-fought weekend of competition in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Taking on Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda, the Vitality Roses kicked off their campaign facing South Africa in the opening match. The pace was ferocious and both sides were neck and neck as they settled into their stride.

Calmly nailing the first six-point shot, last year’s MVP Paige Reed helped keep her teammates calm throughout, but it wasn’t enough as South Africa used the power play period to sink a six-point shot in the dying seconds and take the victory 25-33. Zara Everitt delivered a captain’s performance to lead by example and was named Player of the Match.

Back on court for game number two, the Vitality Roses faced Jamaica and were fast out of the blocks, claiming a commanding lead in the opening quarter. Intercepts from Everitt and young gun Sophie Kelly gave the Vitality Roses crucial opportunities to convert and with Harriet Jones claiming an impressive 91% shot success rate, the victory was theirs for the taking. After an impressive 35-15 win, Jones picked up the Player of the Match award.

The Vitality Roses weren’t able to build on their victory against Jamaica as they were beaten 22-31 by Uganda in their next outing. The She Cranes led from the off with Falidah Kadondi, who fans can look forward to watching in the Netball Super League for Nottingham Forest Netball in 2025, was named Player of the Match.

Back in action on day two, the Vitality Roses came flying out of the traps in their penultimate group match against hosts New Zealand. With just one point separating the two sides after the opening quarter, neither side let up. The final quarter began with that one goal margin still in place but as the power play buzzer sounded, the points quickly began to rack up. Despite an opportunity for the Vitality Roses to level the score in the dying seconds, it was the hosts that finished on top with a 32-28 victory.

In their last group game, the Vitality Roses faced an unbeaten Australian side. A strong start and good work from Jones in the shooting circle kept the Vitality Roses firmly in the race in the first half but Australia cranked up the pressure and confirmed their spot in the final with a 41-27 victory.

The Vitality Roses then faced Jamaica in the fifth/sixth play-off. The two sides were evenly matched in a low-scoring opening and were all square going into the fourth quarter power play. Paige Reed, with a four-pointer, and Jones were on target to put the Vitality Roses out in front before a nervy finale as Amanda Pinkney had three attempts to nail a six-pointer that would have taken the win for Jamaica. But Sonia Mkoloma’s side held on to secure a fifth-place finish, with Kelly scooping the Player of the Match award.

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How the competition works
FAST5 is a shorter, faster-paced version of the game with five players on each side. For the 2024 event, there were some rule trials taking place. The extended Power Play period allowed more chances for double points while there was also a new trial around using possession. Once the ball had progressed out of one third of the court (towards the attacking team’s scoring end), it couldn’t be passed backwards into that third again.

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FINAL STANDINGS
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Uganda
4. South Africa
5. Vitality Roses
6. Jamaica