Sinclair strives for Silver Ferns future after Fast5 success

Sam Sinclair jumps and catches the ball during the Fast5 at Hisense Arena Melbourne Australia. PHOTO/PHOTOSPORT

Rotorua's Samantha Sinclair is striving for a successful Silver Fern future after an impressive performance in the recent Fast5 World Series.

Former John Paul College student Sinclair, 21, was part of New Zealand's winning Fast5 Ferns side who demolished Australia 41-16 in the grand final in Melbourne on Sunday - helping the Kiwis to their fourth straight title in the competition.

The win extended New Zealand's dominance in the shortened version of the game, as they clinched their sixth title in seven years.

The Kiwis had narrowly lost to Australia 32-29 on day one of the intense two-day tournament but Sinclair, who impressed at centre, said the tactical masterstroke of opting to play their double-points powerplay quarter in the second spell was the key to success.

"The first time round we didn't play such a physical game and our power plays were not enough," she said. "But we changed it up for the final and we really timed our power play well.

"Also it helps when your shooters are on fire. That really pushed us forward and gave us a strong grip on the match."

Sinclair was one of nine in the 10-strong squad playing Fast5 for the first time and she said the experience was a "fantastic learning curve".

"It was an amazing opportunity to be over there and I have taken a lot from this experience," she said.

"It's a completely different game to what I'm used to because there isn't a lot of structure to it but it was so much fun and the atmosphere in the final was incredible.

"It has certainly increased the love of the game for me."

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic player, who has yet to represent the Silver Ferns, said her target was to achieve her first full cap for her country in the near future.

"I haven't had that special cap yet but it certainly is a goal for me," she said.

"Internationally I feel I now have my foot in the door and it's great to be mixing with the country's best.

"I want to take my Fast5 as a building block and keep performing from here."

For the 2017 domestic season Sinclair will be part of the new ANZ Netball Elite League, with her Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic teammates.

Samantha Sinclair in action for Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. PHOTO/ FILE.

The competition will replace the ANZ Championship in New Zealand from next season, with a triple round robin featuring the current five New Zealand teams plus a new team based in the greater Auckland area.

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 2017 squad: Alex MacLeod-Smith, Amorangi Malesala, Casey Kopua, Grace Kukutai, Grace Rasmussen, Kelly Jury, Lenize Potgieter, Monica Falkner, Sam Sinclair and Sydney Fraser.