Netball: Jamaican import brings defensive strength to Mystics

Althea Byfield will be among seasoned internationals when she plays for the Mystics this season. Photo / Natalie Slade

The Northern Mystics welcomed the final member of their roster this week as they begin to ramp up their preparations for the ANZ Championship.

Jamaican defender Althea Byfield jetted into town on Thursday and was yesterday familiarising herself with the Mystics set-up.

This year will be Byfield's second stint in the transtasman league after turning out for the Central Pulse in 2009. There the talented defender was one of the top performers in an otherwise young and inexperienced team who finished bottom of the table for the second straight season.

At the Mystics, however, Byfield will be just one of a handful of seasoned internationals, with the Temepara George-led side making a number of handy acquisitions in the off-season, including Silver Ferns Maria Tutaia, Joline Henry and Larrissa Willcox.

Byfield said the idea of playing in a more experienced line-up, who at this stage look to be genuine play-off contenders, was appealing to her.

"The Mystics are a more professional organisation, within the group of girls they have quite a few players who have represented their country at senior level or under-21 level," said Byfield.

"It's always great to be a part of a team where everybody has the same outlook on the game and they have the same expectations and know their roles."

Byfield said she was particularly excited by the potential of her defensive combination with Henry and Willcox and believed they would be destructive.

"I think we'll be going places, that's all I'm going to say, we'll be going places."

Byfield was not the only top netballer making her way through the arrivals lounge at Auckland Airport on Thursday. Former Australian international Peta Scholz - the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic's new import - also touched down this week.

Eyeing the murky rain clouds hanging over Auckland as she arrived from balmy 38C heat in Adelaide, Scholz said she had no regrets about choosing to make New Zealand home for the next six months.

"It's very exciting and we're just very happy to be here - it's been a big build-up."

Scholz and her two daughters, Matilda, 4, and Poppy, 3, will be based in Mt Maunganui for the season, with her husband, David, joining them in April.

Scholz, who played 54 tests for Australia, retired from top-level netball two years ago to enjoy more time with her young family.

But a brief return for a worldseven team, as well as the desireto experience semi-professional netball before the opportunity passed herby, prompted Scholz to make a comeback.

"I guess I kind of felt like I missed out the last two years with the new competition happening and I thought it would be great to be a part of it, and luckily enough I was offered this spot here."

Luck had little to do with Scholz's inclusion in the league.

A number of franchises were circling for her signature after the 33-year-old impressed with her performances for the composite world team against the Silver Ferns.

She considered an offer fromthe Adelaide Thunderbirds, whomshe played 11 seasons for in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy - Australia's now-defunct domestic league.

But in the end the Magic, with their more flexible approach for mothers, and presumably a bigger pay cheque, won out.

Scholz will be cast straight into action this weekend, attending a team retreat in the Bay of Plenty.