Netball: Williams called into Silver Ferns

Teenage defender Casey Williams has been called into the Silver Ferns squad to take on England in the three-test series starting in Auckland on Saturday.

Williams steps into the spot vacated by captain Lesley Rumball, who last week withdrew from the Series due to injury. Midcourter Adine Wilson replaced Rumball as skipper

Williams, 19, was first named in the Silver Ferns squad in September last year and travelled with the team to Australia in November as a training player.

She returned last week from the New Zealand under-21 tour of Jamaica and the United States on Saturday, where the team won five of their six games, including one against current World Youth Cup holders Australia.

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said she was impressed with Williams' performance on that tour and with the Ferns in Australia last year.

Also, her performance for national championship winners Waikato in September helped secure her promotion.

"Given the opportunities she has received, especially in the past six months, Casey has really stepped up and shown that she is capable of performing consistently under pressure," Aitken said in a statement.

"She's deserving of this honour and I'm really pleased to welcome her into the team."

Williams, who is currently studying, will join the team on Friday as they make their final preparations for the first test at the North Shore Events Centre.

The other tests are in Wellington (March 16) and Invercargill (March 19).

- NZPA