Andrews Scores Tough Opening To Elite-level Career

Newcastle Herald

Thursday June 21, 2007

Renee Valentine - Netball

VANESSA Andrews was given a baptism of fire when she matched up against former Australian squad member Ingrid Dick in her debut national netball league appearance on Friday night.

The 21-year-old was a late addition to the Jaegers squad this year after mid-court player Courtney Tairi suffered a season-ending knee injury.

She has been in the Jaegers' travelling squad for their past three outings and got on court for the third quarter in Hunter's 67-39 away loss to competition leaders Melbourne Phoenix last week.

"I was filled with a mixture of anxiety and excitement, but it was really good to get out there," she said.

"It just seemed like another pace out there, especially playing against the Phoenix with their experience. But it was a good experience to get out there against Australia's best."

? The Jaegers will go down in national league history tomorrow night by playing in the last double-header of the competition, which will be replaced at the end of the year by the Tasman Trophy.

Sydney and Melbourne have hosted the biannual NSW versus Victoria double-headers for the past four seasons.

Hunter play the Melbourne Kestrels in the early match at Acer Arena at Homebush tomorrow night then defending champions Sydney Swifts take on Phoenix.

? Kestrels tall timber Caitlin Thwaites will be buoyed by her inclusion in the Australian open squad when she hits the court against the Jaegers tomorrow.

The goal shooter has been in superb touch this season and is among the leading shooters in the league, averaging 33 goals per match at an accuracy of 84 per cent.

Thwaites was one of three changes to the 12-player Australian team named this week for next month's two-Test series against Jamaica.

Her Kestrels teammate Julie Prendergast returns to the national side, replacing fellow Kestrels defender Rebecca Bulley, after missing the England tour in May through injury.

The other change was Adelaide goal attack Natalie Medhurst in for Thunderbirds shooting partner Kristen Hughes.

? The Jaegers return to the television screen tomorrow night when their clash with the Kestrels is shown live on ABC2 from 6pm.

The Sydney Swifts-Melbourne Phoenix blockbuster will also be televised.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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