Fast5 Netball: Australia takes home the double against the Kiwis

THIS year’s Fast5 competition was a fruitful one for the Australian men’s and women’s teams, taking home the gold after two days play in Christchurch.

The Australian Women won their third consecutive campaign after claiming the title, whereas the New Zealand Men missed out on the treble this year after the Aussies turned the tables for the first time.

Men’s Results

Australia (42) vs. South Africa (27)
New Zealand (32) vs. Australia (28)
New Zealand (32) vs. South Africa (31)

Final: New Zealand (30) vs. Australia (32)

In the final for the men’s title, it was Australian shooter Jordan Webb who delivered the clutch long bomb for four points to win the match. Those points, the only ones that were made by the youngster, but that did not matter come the end of the game.

Prior to this, the Kiwis only needed to keep the ball in their possession after slotting a six-point shot with less than a minute to go.

The epic last forty seconds capped off with the final blow, befitting the true rivalry and competitiveness between the two Trans-Tasman sides. Australian defender Alastair Punshon was awarded the Player of the Match in the final.

Women’s Results

England (25) vs. South Africa (33)
New Zealand (39) vs. Jamaica (19)
Australia (44) vs. Uganda (37)

England (35) vs. Jamaica (15)
Australia (49) vs. South Africa (26)
New Zealand (40) Uganda (27)

England (31) vs. Uganda (22)
Jamaica (25) vs. South Africa (33)
New Zealand (26) vs. Australia (41)

Jamaica (39) vs. Australia (56)
New Zealand (32) vs. England (28)
South Africa (37) vs. Uganda (20)

Australia (41) vs. England (27)
New Zealand (41) vs. South Africa (40)
Jamaica (26) vs. Uganda (43)

5th/6th play-off: England (38) vs. Jamaica (36)
3rd/4th play-off: South Africa (42) vs. Uganda (46)
1st/2nd play-off: Australia (34) vs. New Zealand (30)

It was a younger and more inexperienced line-up that took Australia to its third consecutive Fast5 trophy after winning against New Zealand in a replay of last year’s final.

Coming from behind in the second half, the Australians won by four points despite being 15 goals down during the contest. Experienced defender Kim Jenner was out for the visitors, missing after a head knock in day one’s proceedings.

Starting in goal defence was Amy Sligar, but she was swung back into the midcourt when the Kiwis pulled ahead. They pulled the margin back to only four points at three quarter time, with Reilley Batcheldor able to sink some trademark long shots to give them the lead for the first time since the first term.

Matisse Letherbarrow had 11 points which included Australia’s only six-point shot, while on the other end it was Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Teigan O’Shannassy were steadfast, keeping their opponents to just two points in the final quarter.

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