Posted 12th Oct 2019

Fast5 Champs provide an “invaluable opportunity” for learning and experience as Blue & Gold start pre-season preparations

Anna Stembridge says that Team Bath Netball’s younger players will have learnt plenty from their experience at the 2019 British Fast5 Netball All-Star Championships.

The Blue & Gold played their part in two hugely entertaining contests at a sell-out Copper Box Arena in London but failed to progress after being beaten 40-28 by Celtic Dragons and 36-23 by Saracens Mavericks.

The latter match finished three seconds early after the netball hoop was snapped by a long-range shot from Hannah Passmore (pictured), who was experiencing the Fast5 competition for the first time.

Superleague Head Coach Stembridge said: “Obviously we were disappointed to not get a win out of the two games but we thoroughly enjoyed the competition.

“It was brilliant to get the opportunity to expose some of our younger and less-experienced athletes like Hannah, who is only 18, to that type of environment and pressure.

“While you try and simulate that type of experience in training and pre-season it just isn’t the same, so that in itself made the event an invaluable opportunity for the players and us as a team.

“The shooting in the competition, this year in particular, was sublime and the impact of those long-range shooters in the power plays was just sensational, proving a real challenge for any opponent – Jo Harten put on an absolute masterclass.”

England international Harten was named as Most Valuable Player after inspiring Loughborough Lightning to overall victory, scoring 58 of their 61 points in the final against Wasps.

Harten wasn’t the only now Australia-based player to return to her former club, with Team Bath legend Stacey Francis wearing the famous Blue & Gold once again for a second successive Fast5 tournament.

“Having Stacey back in the Blue & Gold was brilliant, not only from a playing perspective but in relation to her leadership on and off the court,” said Stembridge. “Those playing with and against her will have gained a lot from having her back in our environment.

“Having been part of Fast5 this weekend, we are now even more excited to get going with our Vitality Superleague pre-season programme and showcase our 2020 squad to our fans!”

Details of Team Bath’s pre-season fixtures will be announced shortly. Tickets are on sale for the nine Superleague fixtures being played at the Team Bath Arena in 2020 – click here for more information.

Picture credit: Joe Pinchin/Matchroom Multi Sport

Other news articles

Team Bath Netball player Alanna Pullen on the Team Bath Arena court, holding the ball above her head as she prepares to pass. She is being watched by a crowd of spectators and her team-mates on the bench.
Team Bath Netball NXT Gen star Alanna Pullen joining Birmingham Panthers for 2026 Super League season

Team Bath Netball NXT Gen League star Alanna Pullen has followed up her Netball World Youth Cup selection by being awarded a 2026 Super League contract by Birmingham Panthers. It comes after a standout season in Blue & Gold...

Read More
A composite image of Team Bath Netball U19 players (from left) Neve Marsden, Ane De Wet and Jess Hollingbery. They are wearing Blue & Gold kit and have end-of-season award medals around their necks.
Team Bath Netball trio selected in Roses Academy U19 long squad for 2025-26 season

A trio of talented Team Bath Netball Player Pathway athletes have been selected into the England Netball Roses Academy U19 long squad for the 2025-26 season. Versatile attacking player Ané De Wet, the national U19 Player of the Season...

Read More
Profile pictures of netballers Alanna Pullen and Sophie Kelly, with an AI-generated England flag behind them.
England call on Team Bath’s Alanna Pullen and scholar Sophie Kelly for 2025 Netball World Youth Cup

Team Bath Netball’s Alanna Pullen and University of Bath sporting scholar Sophie Kelly have been named in the England U21 squad for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, taking place in Gibraltar from 19-28 September. Trendell Sporting Scholar Jayda...

Read More
Team Bath Netball Sponsors
Partners and Suppliers