Thunder await Blue and Gold in opening match of 2018 British Fast5 All-Stars Championships

Team Bath Netball have been drawn against Manchester Thunder in the opening round of matches for this Saturday’s British Fast5 All-Stars Championships at the Copper Box Arena in London.

The winners will face the victors of match four between benecosMavericks and Wasps Netball, while the defeated teams in those games will have a second chance to progress through the Double Elimination Group Stage.

Blue & Gold legend Stacey Francis is part of the Team Bath Netball squad for this weekend’s competition, which sees the top eight franchises from the 2018 Vitality Superleague table battle it out in the small-sided, fast-paced version of the game featuring bonus buzzers and long-range scoring zones.

Australian shooter Beryl Friday and new signing Leila Thomas are also in the squad along with Imogen Allison, Chartie Curtis, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Chelsea Lewis, Mia Ritchie, Laura Rudland and Rachel Shaw.

The action gets under way at 1pm and finishes around 6pm, with Sitec-sponsored Team Bath hoping to go one better than last year when they finished runners-up to Loughborough Lightning in a thrilling final.

Tickets for the 2018 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship are available via www.fast5allstars.co.uk priced at £20, £30 and £40 with courtside hospitality tickets available at £99. Under-18s receive 50% off tickets, excluding courtside hospitality, while family and group discounts are also available.

Team Bath Netball are sponsored by Sitec and supported by partners Mogers Drewett, Soldi and Netball South West. Centurion Chartered Financial Planners are supporting the team’s performance analysis and people development capabilities, Viper 10 are their Sportswear Supplier and Skins provide the team with compression wear.