Netball: Broughton babes get to step up

Anna Thompson will be joining the Fastnet Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Fastnet team will have just two training sessions under their belt by the time they board their plane for Britain tomorrow afternoon.

The Fastnet Ferns - essentially a New Zealand B side with a collection of fringe Silver Ferns and young up-and-coming talent - will assemble for the first time in Auckland today ahead of the World Fastnet Series, which starts in Liverpool next weekend.

Coached by Southern Steel mentor Robyn Broughton, the New Zealand side will attempt to defend the title won at the inaugural tournament in Manchester last year by the top-flight team.

But on the back of such a limited build-up, Broughton admits it is a tough assignment.

"It's a big ask," she said.

"But it's not as if we don't know one another.

"New Zealand netball is a fairly small place, so there's a few there that have got combinations with others.

"I think there is a lot of heart in that team as well, they're all gutsy players and nobody likes to lose, so we'll certainly be doing our best."

With the Silver Ferns resting up after a long season and preparing for a busy start to 2011, Broughton is taking a very young side to Britain.

Of the team that won gold in Delhi last month, only attacking utility Grace Rasmussen is in the side heading to Liverpool, along with wider New Zealand squad members Anna Thompson, Charlotte Kight and Camilla Lees.

Former Silver Fern Maree Bowden and veteran defender Rachel Rasmussen will add a smattering of experience.

While it is a side without any top-name stars, Broughton believes her team will be extremely motivated to perform to push their case for higher honours.

"It is a development team but they do have to perform and stand up and be counted."

The New Zealand shooters will be under extra pressure, with limited options in the team.

Only three shooters - Thompson, Grace Rasmussen and Ellen Halpenny - were selected for the tour and the trio can expect a heavy workload, particularly Halpenny, who is the only genuine goal shoot in the bunch.

"We haven't got the big, tall shooter that we've traditionally had, so that will be a challenge," said Broughton.

"We can't rely on heaving great big high balls in, we will have to use a lot of quick running and agility."

New Zealand are not the only country fielding a development side for the three-day tournament, Australia have also named a second string line-up, captained by shooter Kate Beveridge.

England and Jamaica, meanwhile, are missing a couple of key players, but have named largely full-strength teams.

Broughton said she was looking forward to the challenge of preparing her side to tackle five different styles in the space of three days.

"That's a good learning curve for me as well.

"I'm getting the opportunity to see all those international teams close up and see what they do, and I always learn from that sort ofthing."

WORLD FASTNET SERIES

* November 19-21

* Liverpool, England

* Competing nations: New Zealand, Australia, England, Jamaica, Malawi, South Africa

* Fastnet Ferns: Maree Bowden (c), Kayla Cullen, Ellen Halpenny, Charlotte Kight, Camilla Lees, Jessica Moulds, Grace Rasmussen, Rachel Rasmussen, Hayley Saunders, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Anna Thompson