Netball: Auckland netball courts tall Jamaican for the Diamond life

Another star of last year's world netball championships in Christchurch has been lured to New Zealand.

The Auckland Diamonds yesterday confirmed the signing of Jamaican goal-shoot Elaine Davis.

The towering 1.9m Davis was the third-highest scorer at the world championships and her efforts at Christchurch led to her being named Jamaica's Sportswoman of the Year last year.

The 23-year-old, who has played in two world championships and a Commonwealth Games, is regarded as a drawcard to boost support for the franchise in the Coca-Cola Cup.

"We've had trouble filling the stadium and that's one reason we brought an international player over here," said Diamonds sponsorship manager Julie Coney. "She's great in the air and she's got typical Jamaican flair."

She also hoped Davis would be involved in promotional activities and coaching clinics in schools.

The Diamonds did not expect any flak over the decision to bring an overseas player into the side.

"If a player is outstanding and will add something to the competition, they should be here," she said.

However, she was against teams featuring three or four imports, saying, "We need to develop our own players as well. There is a fine balance."

Davis follows the lead of South African goal-shoot Irene Van Dyk, who has settled in Wellington.

However, unlike Van Dyk, who hopes to play for New Zealand, Davis will be in Auckland only until the end of June.

While she is in the city she will do a term in business studies at Unitec.

- NZPA