Netball: Rowberry must prove herself

Eleven years ago, an 18-year-old Anna Rowberry upset many older netball rivals when she was plucked straight from secondary school to play for the Silver Ferns. But now the tables could be turned on the former captain.

At today's trial at the ASB Stadium in Auckland, Rowberry will face one of the sternest challenges of her 83-test career. "I could be traded in for a younger model," joked Rowberry.

"It is realistic to think that I could miss out as there are younger players who are a little bit quicker and so on but I have other attributes they don't have. I am a little more streetwise than some of the other girls and know about pressure."

But she knows it will take more than experience to make the Silver Ferns squad to play Australia on October 29 and that she has to perform to get back in black.

"I'd like to think experience counts," said Rowberry. "But certainly it's only a little bit [of the total picture] and I need to show that I am better than everyone else in my position."

Rowberry has experienced the highs of captaining the Silver Ferns to a historic World Cup win in Jamaica in 2003 to the lows of being dropped for an 18-month period and most recently rupturing the ligaments in her knee. On the comeback trail from injury, the Diamonds skipper was left out of the June 29 test in Sydney, with coach Ruth Aitken opting for the midcourt trio of Temepara George, Lesley Rumball and Adine Wilson, who controlled the physical match well for a 50-43 win.

Rowberry was told she was still not at her best and that she needed to return to the National Bank Cup to restore her confidence in time for the Auckland test against Australia this month.

However, in that time the queue has grown for the midcourt. Rowberry describes this year as one of "the most competitive" of her career and Aitken has told the 29-year-old and Belinda Colling ahead of today's trial at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama to be wary of their younger rivals.

Following the trial, Aitken will cut the 21-strong squad to 12 to take on Australia and the squad usually holds three specialist mid-courters with one utility.

One newcomer Aitken may have in mind is Otago Rebels' promising centre Debbie White.

The 27-year-old Southerner was shocked to be named in the trial squad but has quickly settled and isn't too worried about competing with some of her idols.

"That shock has turned into excitement now," said White. "It is a bit daunting playing against some of the big names but I am looking at it as an opportunity to join the best team in the world and not focusing on who is around me."

White believes she needs to complete her usual consistent game with some added flair to convince the selectors that she is up to the demands of international netball.

"It's pretty special to be trialing for the best team in the world and I want to take my chance."

Rowberry has the experience to intercept that chance and she isn't nervous about today's trial, which may determine her chances of playing at the Commonwealth Games next year.

"I am just looking forward to getting back on court with the Silver Ferns because it has been a long time. To be fully fit and competing on a level playing field is very exciting," said Rowberry.

A Commonwealth gold is one notable omission from Rowberry's successful career, as the Ferns finished second in 2002 at Manchester and in 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY