Netball: Finch returns south to bolster Steel

Phillipa Finch
Phillipa Finch
Former Otago Rebel Phillipa Finch has signed with the Steel and feels good about returning to the South.

The tenacious midcourter, who hails from Balclutha, joins the squad as a replacement for Wendy Frew, who withdrew after announcing her pregnancy earlier this month.

Finch made her debut for the Rebels in 2001 and played 30 games before heading north following the advent of the ANZ Championship in 2008 ,and has spent the past four seasons with the Canterbury Tactix.

A tireless worker, she became a pivotal member of the Rebels squad and impressed with her competitiveness.

The 30-year-old said she was excited about the opportunity to represent the Southern region on the international sporting stage.

"It does feel like a homecoming," she said in a press release.

"It was hard to change into Canterbury colours after representing Otago for so long, so it will definitely be easier running on to the court in the Steel dress.

"I'm really excited because I'm from Balclutha and a lot of my family is still living there, so they're happy to have me playing back down there."

A teacher at Sumner School in Christchurch, Finch joined her new Steel team-mates at a pre-season tournament at Lincoln two weeks ago.

Finch's netball season was cut short last year when she ruptured her ACL in a game against the Steel in Dunedin, requiring her to have surgery in June.

Despite taking the court for the first time in nearly a year, her efforts at Lincoln impressed Steel coaches Natalie Avellino and Janine Southby.

Avellino said Finch was a logical choice to fill the Steel's gap in the midcourt.

"We are extremely lucky to have someone of Phillipa's experience to call on," Avellino said.

"She's a real nuggety tough player that won't shy away from a contest - very similar attributes to Wendy, actually, so she's a great fit for our team.

"It was a bonus having her come and play for us at the pre-season because it enabled us to see her and see how she's tracking, given she's been training for triathlons instead of netball."

Finch was eager to share her vast experience with a Steel midcourt comprising youthful talent in Hayley Saunders, Courtney Tairi and Shannon Francois.

"I feel I have got a lot of experience to give and I want to be a strong role model for them," she said.

"I think our team has lots of talent and the Steel will do really well this season. We have the element of surprise on our side, because no-one really knows what to expect from us."

 

 

Add a Comment