Netball: Kight flying high on Ferns' radar

Adine Wilson (left), Sheryl Scanlan and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit attend a Knickers for Africa campaign photoshoot. Photo / Supplied

High on Silver Ferns' coach Ruth Aitken's wish-list prior to the start of the 2009 ANZ Championship was a desire for more depth in the goal defence position.

Perhaps she should have added a couple of other wishes: A plea for her team to remain injury-free this season; Irene van Dyk to discover the secret to eternal youth and Laura Langman to be cloned so she could cover every midcourt position. Why not? It seems the netball gods have answered her prayers.

Test incumbents Sheryl Scanlan and Katrina Grant have been in strong form for the Steel, Jodi Tod continues to play good netball when given the chance at the Magic, and even some girl by the name of Casey Williams has had a couple of pretty strong hit-outs in the goal-defence bib with the Waikato side.

But the biggest surprise has been young defender Charlotte Kight of the Canterbury Tactix, who after spending all last season on the bench, has emerged as a top young prospect.

Kight, who was yesterday named in the New Zealand Under-21 side that will defend the World Youth Cup in the Cook Islands in August, has been one of the few Kiwi youngsters to step up and perform with confidence in the competitive transtasman league.

It was a daunting introduction to the competition for the 20-year-old, who in her first outing marked veteran Australian shooter Catherine Cox. And the opposition hasn't got any easier since, with Kight matching up against highly rated young shooter Caitlin Bassett of the West Coast Fever, and international goal-attacks Natalie Medhurst (Thunderbirds) and Maria Tutaia (Magic).

But the energetic youngster has more than held her own against some of the big names in the competition, although Kight does her best to ignore the reputations of her opponents.

"We try not to list the big names. We don't like to build them up too much," she said. "But I've played against some top quality players and yes, it's been a steep learning curve but it's the best way to learn, because if you screw up, you get punished."

Kight said having the support of her defensive partner and star England international Sonia Mkoloma, and the likes of Julie Seymour and Larrissa Wilcox working hard outside the circle makes her job easy.

"I think having such classy players around me makes me feel comfortable, because [they] make you look good."

Having matched it with some of the best shooters in the transtasman league the 20-year-old Cantabrian was considered a shoe-in to make the national Under-21 side.

Despite being a regular starter in the transtasman league, Kight said she was not overly confident heading in to this week's trials.

"It's hard with trials because you're playing with girls that you don't play with all the time, so all I hoped for was to play consistent netball," she said. "I wouldn't say I was really confident, it was more that I felt a bit better about my match fitness."

But Kight knew it wasn't just about impressing in the trials.

"The selectors have been watching for the last four years. They watch everything - it's a little bit creepy actually," she joked.

With many now talking Kight up as a possible Silver Ferns trialist later in the year, she'll have to get used to that uncomfortable feeling of being watched.

CHANGES IN THE WINGS

Over the past couple of months ANZ Championship officials have been consulting with the 10 franchises and other stakeholders to come up with a solution to the much-maligned ineligible player rules.

The rule has been the centre of controversy in the opening two seasons, with Netball New Zealand's ability to veto the inclusion of overseas players in kiwi teams the root of much frustration for franchise bosses.

It appears changes are imminent, but just what shape those changes will take is unknown.

At this stage it looks as though the league will move to allow every team at least one import as of right and the debate is whether that is extended to two to make some of the lower-ranked sides more competitive.

It is also likely that New Zealand citizens who aren't eligible for the Silver Ferns will no longer be regarded as imports in the league.

KNICKERS FOR AFRICA

There'll be more female fans wielding a pair of knickers at the Southern Steel's match this weekend than a Tom Jones concert.

The Steel are helping out the Knickers for Africa campaign which ships undies to women in parts of Africa where owning a pair confers status, which can help prevent sexual attacks.

They're encouraging everyone who attends tomorrow afternoon's game against the Canterbury Tactix in Invercargill to bring along a pair of knickers (new ones, obviously) to donate to the cause.

To help share out the Y-fronts or to find out more about the campaign, go to www.knickers4africa.moonfruit.com.