ANZ Premiership netballers back in Bay for Super 8 play
Two of Hawke's Bay netball's most high-profile exports will give the province's Super 8 club competition a boost from tomorrow night.
Shooter Kelsey McPhee and goal attack-midcourter Asher Grapes have returned from ANZ Premiership duty with Western Bay of Plenty Magic and Northern Mystics respectively. McPhee will play for her former Thirsty Whale Otane Force team and Grapes will turn out for Tremains All In Elusive.
While former Napier Girls' High School player McPhee will be available for the Hawke's Bay open women's team announced yesterday former Hastings Girls High School player and Hawke's Bay Netball's 2018 Sportsperson of the Year Grapes won't be.
Grapes, 19, told the Hawke's Bay App she needs to focus on her Health Sport and Human Performance degree.
"I'm studying fulltime now the Premiership has finished for me and those second year of my degree studies are my priority now," Grapes said.
Originally named as a training partner for the Mystics this season, Grapes, became a fulltime contracted member of the squad a month out from the restart of the Premiership when shooter Bailey Mes was ruled out of the season with injury.
She appeared in 10 matches and played a total of 186 minutes.
"To get court time was pretty amazing ... something I didn't expect. It's crazy how things ended up this year," Grapes said.
All In Elusive will take on BM Accounting HHSOG Huia in tomorrow night's feature match at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena.
"I'm excited to be back playing in the Super 8. When I played for Hastings Girls we struggled at the bottom of the Super 8 table. All In have a real chance at the title," Grapes said.
While she was more of a goal attack during her school days Grapes said she realised during the ANZ Premiership she wasn't tall enough for that role at that level and midcourt will be her best position long-term.
"Playing in the Super 8 will provide an opportunity to play more minutes in the midcourt," Grapes said.
Australian-born midcourter Emily Burgess, a Mystics squad training partner, will join Grapes in the All In side.
Tomorrow night's other 7.50pm match will see Otane take on Vet Services Central Sports. In 6pm tussles Optimise Physio Outkast Sports will play defending champions Napier Girls' High School and Hastings Girls' High School will meet House of Travel Havelock North Kauri.
The Hawke's Bay women's netball team to play in a tournament at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena on September 13 and Netball Manawatu's Betty Steffensen tournament on September 27 is:
Kirby Beach, Olivia Tilyard (both Central Sports), Aimee Carlson (Taradale Phoenix), Briar Chalmers, Treyana Faulkner, Demi Forshaw, Kiana Jessup-Tahau, Valentine Kahukura, Kelsey McPhee (all Otane), Molly Deighton (HHSOG Huia), Pania Rowe, Rhandell Sharrock (both All In Elusive).
Training Partners: Tee Aiolupotea (HHSOG Huia), Melissa Te Huki (Otane).
Head Coach: Irene van Dyk.
Manager: Honey Amner.
