Netball: Perseverance pays off for midcourter

Jade Clarke (left) joined the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic briefly last year as a replacement for injured Peta Scholz. Photo / Richard Robinson

After four seasons of "door-knocking", England international Jade Clarke has secured an elusive contract in the transtasman league, joining the Northern Mystics for the 2012 season.

Clarke, an athletic midcourter, will likely slot in at wing defence for the Mystics, filling the void left by Silver Fern Joline Henry, who has signed for the Pulse next season.

Having been chasing a fulltime contract in the transtasman league since the competition began, Clarke said she was over the moon to finally secure an ANZ Championship deal.

The 27-year-old has had a brief taste of the competition, joining the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic just before their 2010 finals campaign as a replacement for injured midcourter Peta Scholz.

Clarke impressed in her short time with the franchise, but a Netball England directive which insisted members of the national squad were based at home this year to allow them to prepare for the world championships meant Clarke did not get the chance to return this season.

But she still kept in contact with a number of franchises to register her interest in playing in the competition and after a series of strong performances in Singapore, where England finished third, the Mystics decided to give her a shot. The 83-test midcourter is delighted to be given an opportunity.

"Just after having that taste of the ANZ back in 2010 I really knew that I wanted to come back for a full season. I've been trying to play ANZ since it started a few years ago - it's the best netball league in the world so you always want to test yourself against the best," said Clarke.

She is one of a handful of English players who will ply their trade in Australasia next year. Star defenders Geva Mentor (Vixens) and Sonia Mkoloma (Swifts) are expected to return for their fifth season in the league and will be joined by newcomers Eboni Beckford-Chambers (Fever) and Jo Harten (Tactix).

Clarke hopes there could yet be a few more of her English teammates filling import spots on rosters. "I think we should be pushing to get as many players in as possible. Serena [Guthrie] and Stacey [Francis] have been putting some really good form together for England so hopefully in the next few weeks we'll have a couple more in."

The Magic and Southern Steel are the only two New Zealand sides with a spot open for an ineligible player.

Clarke will officially link up with the Mystics in January for preseason training, but Auckland crowds will likely get a glimpse of her in October when England take on the Silver Ferns in the first of two tests.

JADE CLARKE

Born: 17/10/1983, Manchester, England.
Height: 1.74m.
Tests: 83 caps (England).
Positions: C, WD.