By JULIE ASH
Kathryn Harby-Williams is not going to let a finger injury end her season with the Auckland Diamonds.
The former Australian netball captain suffered a blow to her finger in Sunday's match against the Magic, tearing the tendon from the bone and creating a few loose bone fragments.
She has been
advised to stand down for six weeks.
"It is very sore, that is the only thing that is of concern, but I am hoping that the pain will subside," Harby-Williams said.
"The diagnosis is that you are not to allow any contact with it for six weeks, but I have had a splint made up and as long as the pain is okay to play with, then I'll keep playing.
"I am sure every other netballer would be doing what I am doing ... it is pretty embarrassing to tell people your season is over because you have got a sore finger."
After their 48-40 loss to the Magic, the Diamonds must beat the Flyers in Napier on Saturday to stay in the running for a semifinal spot.
The Flyers, who were trounced by the Sting 76-29 in their opening match, are not expected to prove too much of a challenge for the Auckland side, so resting Harby-Williams could be an option for Diamonds coach Joan Hodson.
With co-captain Anna Rowberry out with a broken arm, however, the Diamonds are already under strength.
"I am here to play netball and I am not that keen to sit on the bench, to tell you the truth," Harby-Williams said.
"If I am going to play the week after then I'd rather start getting used to it [the splint] this week ... but once you get into a game you usually forget about any pain."
While Harby-Williams' season may not be over, Canterbury Flames defender Belinda Charteris' season has come to an end after she ruptured an Achilles tendon in the Flames 53-27 win over the Otago Rebels.
In her first game back in the league, after taking time out to start a family, the former Silver Fern was forced out of the match in the third quarter.
Flames coach Margaret Foster has yet to decide on a replacement for the 31-year-old.
National Bank Cup squads and draw
