Oldham Netball Club crowned inaugural Fire5 Champions winning a £13,000 prize fund

Oldham Netball Club made history this weekend by becoming the inaugural Fire5 Champions, claiming the title and £13,000 in prize money at the UK's first-ever Fire5 tournament, held at Belle Vue Sports Arena, Manchester.

Competing under the name Team Suns, Oldham emerged victorious in the innovative, fast-paced competition created by former New Zealand Silver Fern and double Commonwealth Games gold medallist Maria Folau.  

Fire5 is a high-energy five-a-side format featuring 21-minute matches, power plays, long-range shooting opportunities and a total prize fund of £23,500. 

Eight teams from across the UK took part, competing as Team Suns, Ignite, Phoenix, Titanium, Sting, Burners, Glow and Sparks. Matches consisted of three seven-minute periods, delivering non-stop action and dramatic momentum swings throughout the weekend. 

Team Suns made an impressive start to the competition with a commanding 19-5 victory over Team Ignite. Their second match proved to be a much tougher test against Team Sting, widely tipped as one of the tournament favourites.  

In a closely contested encounter, a spectacular seven-point shot from Caitlyn Campbell helped keep Suns in contention, but Sting capitalised on a late power play opportunity to snatch a 28-26 victory. 

With a semi-final place on the line, Team Suns needed a win in their final group match against Team Titanium, an Army representative side. Rising to the challenge, Suns delivered a dominant performance, securing a convincing 34-16 victory and guaranteeing their place in the knockout stages. 

Sunday's semi-final against Team Sparks, representing Trafford Netball Club, produced one of the most memorable moments of the tournament. Trailing by four goals with less than a minute remaining, Head Coach Debbie Hallas made a bold tactical change, moving defender Caitlyn Campbell into the centre position. 

Moments later, Amelia Hall won a contact penalty on the edge of the shooting circle. Campbell stepped up and calmly sank a long-range seven-point shot, turning the game on its head and securing a dramatic 20-17 victory and a place in the inaugural Fire5 final. 

After a nervous wait, Team Suns returned to face unbeaten Team Sting in the championship match. Having learned from their earlier defeat, Suns controlled the game from the outset, building scoreboard pressure and making effective use of their power plays. Aside from a six-point score from Sting, Oldham remained firmly in control, eventually running out convincing 33-22 winners to lift the trophy and claim the tournament's top prize. 

The celebrations did not stop there. As part of the festival atmosphere, players also competed in individual challenges, including a shooting competition and the Last Blaze, a 60-metre sprint race with a £1,000 prize. Oldham's Alice McGeachy sprinted to victory, adding another success story to a remarkable weekend for the club. 

Oldham Netball Club Senior Head Coach Debbie Hallas said: "What a weekend. We really didn't know what to expect from this new format, but it delivered everything it promised. The energy, intensity, and excitement were incredible from start to finish. 

"Our semi-final win summed up the whole event. We were four goals down with less than a minute to play, yet the players kept believing and produced an incredible seven-point shot to win the game right at the death. 

"This was a young team that grew in confidence with every match. They adapted quickly, embraced new tactics and showed tremendous character throughout the tournament. I couldn't be prouder of them. 

"The prize money is phenomenal and something rarely seen in netball. It will help fund our pre-season trip to Northern Ireland next week and support the team throughout the upcoming season. It's a fantastic reward for all their hard work."