England win Fast5 World Series, young Australia claim third place and learn lessons

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England win Fast5 World Series, young Australia claim third place and learn lessons

By Roy Ward
Updated

Somewhere between the confetti, dancing and selfies it may dawn on netball fans that Australia and New Zealand won't always dominate the international game.

Sure the Fast5 World Series is not full form netball with its power plays, long goals and rolling interchange but at Hisense Arena on Sunday it was England and Jamaica who reigned supreme.

England players after winning the Fast5 Netball World Series final against Jamaica at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.

England players after winning the Fast5 Netball World Series final against Jamaica at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.Credit: AAP

Perhaps not for the last time.

In fairness to Australia and New Zealand, they fielded youthful teams with few international caps while England included many of their Roses side and Jamaica much of their international side.

Gretel Tippet of the Diamonds after scoring a goal in the bronze-medal playoff against New Zealand.

Gretel Tippet of the Diamonds after scoring a goal in the bronze-medal playoff against New Zealand.

England won the final 34-29 after electing to have their power play in the final term but Jamaica ran them close twice having a long three-point shots to tie the game with 40 seconds to play.

Only a quick counter attack and Helen Housby goal locked in the result just before the final siren with England centre court star Serene Guthrie claiming player of the tournament honours.

Guthrie, English shooters Housby and Jo Harten or Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid could have all claimed that honour and all played in Super Netball or ANZ Championship previously.

Australia comfortably won the third place game beat New Zealand 34-15 and the emerging talents on both sides will be better for playing on a big stage.

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England's Helen Housby (left) and Jamaica's Stacian Facey during the Fast5 Netball World Series final.

England's Helen Housby (left) and Jamaica's Stacian Facey during the Fast5 Netball World Series final.Credit: AAP

But Harten said it best when reflecting on the title post game when asked if other nations were ready to challenge for top honours.

"I hope so, we want to battle it out for gold and silver, not just the bronze and stuff like that," Harten said.

"It is about taking these opportunities when they come, celebrating the good stuff, working hard in the offseason and having a crack at everyone when the next opportunity arrises."

That next chance could come at next year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast although Australia and NZ will be much stronger.

Australia's young players will take plenty from this tournament including the empty feeling from some missed shots in their earlier games, especially a 26-23 loss to Jamaica on day one - if they flipped that result they would have likely made the grand final.

Their flowing passes and confident shooting in their final game looks a good sign for the future with Kaylia Stanton, captain Kate Maloney and others showing promise.

"When you play New Zealand it feels like a bit of a grand final, I know we were playing for bronze but it felt like we were playing for gold," Maloney said.

"If we had of played how we did in that last game, we could have beaten some other teams but that is not the way it is."

Australian Fast5 coach Stacey Marinkovich believes her young players will emerge stronger from this year's Fast5 World Series despite falling short of a place in the gold medal match, instead playing their way into the bronze medal game.

"We have been a little bit up and down but playing against different countries they all play differently, it's your ability to adapt," Marinkovich said on Sunday.

"We have 10 really young, vibrant players who are coming through and we have been able to rotate them through seamlessly.

"We would have liked to get the results against Jamaica and England but we have come up against some really world class athletes."

The English brought an experienced side to Hisense Arena, with a starting five who all played as imports in the Australian Super Netball competition earlier this year, including star shooters Joanne Harten and Helen Housby plus former Melbourne Vixens star Geva Mentor.

But star selections aside, the English and Jamaicans had the most deliberate game plans, which focused on using the ball wisely and making sure their shooters opted for settled shots.

Harten, Housby and understudies Rachel Dunn and Natalie Haythornthwaite all impressed, while Jamaica's towering shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid was central to their attacks, happily taking her opportunities close to goal.

Neither Australia nor New Zealand had shooters who could match their English opponents and this will be an area needing close inspection in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games and forward to next year's Super Netball season.

"You have got experience in the England lineup, their circle defence of Geva and Ama Agbeze are a world class combination," Marinkovich said.

"They certainly know how to play the game tactically and have been there before so that's why you need to keep your angles and move the ball quickly.

"Jamaica have come out physical and they move the ball differently to the traditional sides so we had to adjust. Unfortunately we didn't get that win but we will learn from it."

Defensively, Australia kept their opponents to low scores but in their clash with England on Sunday one shot proved all the difference in an otherwise close game.

After keeping England to a low score in their power play quarter, Housby managed to free herself for a six-point shot with just seconds left in the term. That shot left her side ahead 21-17 heading into the last term. England then controlled the last term to win 28-19.

While some will fret on Australia and New Zealand's results, the likes of Malawi, Jamaica and South Africa took plenty from playing under the bright lights and TV cameras.

"Back at home you don't get this much pressure and you think you are OK, now you realise there is still a lot more to do," South Africa's Renske Stoltz said.

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