Netball: No bargains in hunt for big prize

Anna Scarlett was able to re-acquaint herself with some of her friends this week and indulge in one of her favourite pastimes - shopping.

A national volleyball rep, top beach volleyball player and a physio student - life is pretty full on for the Silver Fern's youngest member.

But with this week being university holidays, a quiet period in volleyball and a break between Silver Fern camps, Scarlett was able to take some time out and hit the shops with some friends.

"They shopped and I kind of just wandered around," she laughs.

"But it has been good," she said of the break.

"I have been able to train in the afternoons and it has been really nice actually."

The break will be Scarlett's last for a while as the Silver Ferns begin their final preparations for next month's world championships in Jamaica.

The team regrouped in Auckland yesterday for a five day camp.

They leave for Miami on Wednesday where they will spend a further five days before heading to Jamaica.

"It is pretty exciting," the young defender admitted.

"It is hard to imagine what it is going to be like.

"But we definitely know it is going to be intense, especially against Jamaica and Australia and the heat is going to make it more difficult."

Scarlett was given a taste of what's ahead last year when she travelled with the Silver Ferns to the Commonwealth Games as a 'training player'.

That meant she was involved in training sessions and was able to observe at close quarters the intensity of international netball.

"I learnt how to analyse the game more. I did a lot of the statistics during the matches and that taught me to really watch what was going on.

"I usually watch the game but never really analysed what was going on."

Having already caught the eye of the national selectors, Scarlett was rewarded with a place in the Silver Ferns for the series against South Africa where she made her debut.

With her long, lean limbs and impeccable timing Scarlett, as she is known to her team-mates, could probably be described as the most exciting player to emerge on the national scene in recent years.

"She is very unpredictable," said Scarlett's Silver Fern team-mate Irene van Dyk.

"You never quite know what she is going to do which makes her difficult to play against."

But Scarlett, who is renowned for being a bit of a hard task-master on herself, believes her best is yet to come.

"Netball is a simple game," she said.

"But playing at this level with all these girls that are so exceptional you can't help but learn."

Growing up in Karamea on the South Island's West Coast, Scarlett started playing netball when she was eight.

"You could only really play rugby, hockey or netball," she said.

"Then, when I went to St Margaret's College in Christchurch, I got into touch, volleyball and water polo."

Along with netball, Scarlett took a fancy to volleyball.

Now an accomplished player, she has been a member of the New Zealand women's team since 2000 and is hoping to retain a place in the side for the Asian championships in Vietnam in September.

She also plays on the national beach volleyball tour.

"I love volleyball.

"I probably love volleyball just a little bit more than I love netball, but maybe that's because there is not so much pressure in volleyball."

Not that Scarlett minds a bit of pressure.

Along with Rebels team-mate Stephanie Bond, Scarlett was criticised for being a shade too physical during netball's national league.

"If you look at the final of the National Bank Cup it was about a billion times more physical.

"I don't really know where that all came from but it didn't worry me at all."

Neither does taking the court in Jamaica.

"I played wing defence in the first test against England (in the recent series) and I really enjoyed that.

"I guess I am more comfortable as goal defence but I don't really mind where I am played," she said.

And should Scarlett and the Silver Ferns claim the ultimate prize next month then a shopping spree may just be the next order of business.

Inside track

Name: Anna Scarlett

Born: Westport, April 15, 1983

Occupation: Physiotherapy student

Height: 1.86m.

Positions: Goal defence, goal keep, wing defence

Silver Ferns debut: v South Africa, November 2002.

Test caps: 5 Career highlights

2002/03 - Silver Fern

2002/03 - Otago Rebels

2000/03 New Zealand women's volleyball team.