Netball: Harby-Williams a no show for Flames

Former Australian netball captain Kathryn Harby-Williams' name was missing when the Canterbury Flames coach, Margaret Foster, yesterday named a squad of 12 for the 2004 season.

Foster said Harby-Williams, at one stage thought to be a "90 per cent certainty", had telephoned from Adelaide to confirm she was unavailable.

The coach understood that the goal-defence's husband, Cory, had been unable to find work in Christchurch.

"So I always took it along the lines that if she came it would be a bonus, but if she didn't it didn't worry me," said Foster.

The Flames will be formidable at the defence end anyway in the National Bank Cup, with former Silver Fern Belinda Charteris out of retirement to partner goal-keep Vilimaina Davu.

Foster has gone with a 4-4-4 configuration of shooters, mid-courters and defenders, ranging from some vastly experienced Silver Ferns to teenagers.

Shooter Anna Thompson and defender Elizabeth Manu are 17, and newcomer, Joanna McCaw, sister of All Black flanker Richie, is 20.

Thompson and Manu were both named this week as part of the New Zealand under-21 team to tour Fiji this month, along with Jessica Leech and South Canterbury's Aleisha Rowland.

Though only five players are back from last year's Flames squad, Cherie Irwin and former Silver Ferns Charteris and Julie Seymour were all in the 2002 cup team.

Another new shooter, Chantelle Ngaia, 21, has made the cut after moving south to try to take a step up from the Western Flyers.

Thompson, who left Marian College in Christchurch at the end of last year, was unlikely to get much court time. This was an opportunity for her to develop her basics.

Canterbury Flames squad: Shooters: Belinda Colling, Chantelle Ngaia, Jodi Te Huna, Anna Thompson. Midcourters: Maree Grubb, Cherie Irwin, Natasha Marshall, Julie Seymour. Defenders: Belinda Charteris, Vilimaina Davu, Joanna McCaw, Elizabeth Manu.

Meanwhile, Camille O'Connor has withdrawn from Otago Rebels trials after telling coach Lois Muir she is expecting a baby in August.

O'Connor, who captained Otago at the national championships in September, was favoured to assume the captaincy in the absence of Janine Southby and Megan Parke.

Muir yesterday named a squad of 12 players, including four newcomers. Silver Ferns defender Anna Scarlett and veteran mid-courter Debbie White will be co-captains.

Otago Rebels squad: Shooters: Angela Mitchell (vice-captain), Minpreet Singh-Padda, Anita van den Beld. Mid-courters: Debbie White (co-captain), Alison Shanks, Megan Graamans, Phil Duncan, Debbie Hill, Frances Jackways. Defenders: Anna Scarlett (co-captain), Stephanie Bond, Melissa Ruru. Training squad members: Sonia Donnelly, Kylie Tahau, Emma McGeorge, Sarah Nowell.

- NZPA