Hatfield, Jets and YMCA Magic steal the show

12 teams took to the court to battle for three places in the 2025-26 Premier League 3 season as the Premier League Play-Offs took place in Worcester on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April.

The three bottom placed sides from this season’s third division, Hatfield, BSV Billericay and Leyton, who finished in eighth, ninth and tenth positions respectively, were looking to maintain their Premier League 3 status, while the regional winners were fighting for a promotion into the Premier League.

The nine regional winners looking to earn a spot in Premier League 3 were:

• Hertford Hornets Blue – East regional winner

• Hinckley Hurricanes – East Midlands regional winner

• Hyde Park – London & South East regional winner

• Riverside – North East regional winner

• Deeside – North West regional winner

• Sussex NRG Tigers – South regional winner

• Team Jets – South West regional winner

• Barr Beacon – West Midlands regional winner

• YMCA Magic – Yorkshire & Humberside regional winner

And at the end of the weekend, it was Hatfield, Team Jets and YMCA Magic who won the right to compete in Premier League 3 in the 2025-26 season.

After finishing eighth in the 2024-25 Premier League 3 campaign, Hatfield defended their spot in the competition. On day one, they edged out Sussex NRG Tigers in a closely contested 48-50 victory before running out comfortable 48-74 winners against Barr Beacon in Group C. They picked up where they left off on day two, making it three from three in the group stages with a 67-42 win against Riverside.

This set up a final showdown with Deeside, who also competed in last year’s Play-Offs and were determined to make the step up. However, Hatfield proved too strong, overcoming the North West regional winners 56-45 to make it a second successful consecutive year competing in the Play-Offs.

Meanwhile, Team Jets, coached by former Vitality Roses captain Serena Kersten (née Guthrie), secured a return to Premier League 3. They started the competition brightly with back-to-back victories over Hertford Hornets Blue (52-42) and YMCA Magic (53-44) in Group A on day one.

Their form continued on day two with a 48-39 win over BSV Billericay to complete a clean sweep in their group. Having missed out in last season’s Play-Offs, they went one better this time around, defeating North East regional winners Riverside 54-50 in their final game.

At their first attempt, YMCA Magic made history and booked their place in Premier League 3 for the very first time. The Yorkshire & Humberside regional winner laid down a marker with an opening 56-39 victory over BSV Billericay.

They bounced back from defeat to Team Jets with a 47-43 win against Hertford Hornets Blue to finish as runners-up in Group A and set up a decisive clash with the previously unbeaten Group B winners Hyde Park. Fired up and ready for action, YMCA Magic triumphed 57-65, earning their spot in Premier League 3 for the upcoming season.

A full list of results from the Play-Offs can be viewed here.