Playing for top team 'a huge learning curve'

Charmaine Smith was picked for the North's top squad after her tough performances for Shore Rovers.
Former Whangarei Girls' High School netballer Charmaine Smith is using her selection into North's top side for the Perry Foundation National Championships as a huge learning curve.
The 18-year-old was picked for the Netball North side's nationals campaign after strong defensive performances with her Shore Rovers club in Auckland, where she is  based while studying nutrition and coaching at Auckland University of Technology.
Playing with the quality North squad, which includes Northern Mystics Finau Pulu and Vilimaina Davu, has taught Smith a large amount in the short time since her selection in July.
"It's so good to play with Finau and Vili (also defenders) as they are so experienced and you learn a lot from them," she said.
Smith has lined up at goal defence in the first two national championships fixtures, but she swapped with Pulu to wing defence in their second match, while Davu has started at goal keep in both games.
North played Canterbury in the opening round two weeks ago.
"We lost 62-42 in our first outing. It was a big shock and a bit of a wake-up call," Smith said.
"Last week, we played Auckland Waitakere and drew 44-44, which was great as they had five or six Northern Mystics players and we had only Finau and Vili."
Smith attended WGHS until Year 12 before heading to Palmerston North's Maori Sports academy Tu Toa to concentrate on netball in her final year of secondary school.
At the national championships last year, Smith lined up for Western's second grade side as she was based in Palmerston North, and she had her first taste of top level netball and began to make a name for herself when she made the second-grade tournament team.
However, returning to play for North's division one side has been satisfying for Smith.
"They are all really awesome," she said about her team who were finding their feet under the direction of coaches and former Silver Ferns Linda Vagana and Rita Fatialofa-Patolo.
This weekend, North play last year's defending champions Southland in round three of the nationals at AUT North Shore and Smith says it will be a tough ask for the girls.
After the Southland match, North face Otago on September 27 before the team head to Invercargill for the finals at Southland Stadium.
"We need to win both games to stay in the top four," Smith said.