A national title helps the healing process

BY PENNY MILES

Winning the national secondary schoolgirls tournament for the first time warranted big celebrations for the Wellington Girls' College 1st XI, but for batsman Antonia Ward, the thrill was even more marked.

Ward, 17, was diagnosed with cancer during a cricket trip to South Africa two years ago, and she spent last season off the field.

After undergoing lengthy treatment for leukaemia, she rejoined the team this season.

The win in Taupo against Havelock North Girls' High School for the NZCT Cup signalled that she is nearing the end of two years of gruelling hospital stays for chemotherapy.

"I couldn't make it to the tournament last year, so it was good to just get along and win it," Ward said.

"I got quite a few wickets, but we didn't need to score too many runs because our bowlers did a really good job."

With the prospect of a brighter future ahead, Ward would like to get back to the classroom and more cricket. She will captain the school side next season.

With her cancer in remission, she still undergoes treatment, which will end in May next year.

"It's a two-year treatment plan, which is quite a long time compared to other plans which are like six months.

"I went into remission within five weeks but they still have to watch out for every little thing."

While she was unable to attend school for the past two years, she completed her studies by correspondence. Next year she will rejoin her classmates in year 13.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I did see my friends, but probably not as much as before I got diagnosed. Sometimes I wasn't up to going out, I didn't really feel the best."

The support of friends and family, and the distraction of sport, helped her recovery. "I carried on with indoor netball. It was quite social, but we still went quite hard-out. I couldn't play cricket because I would have bruised easily."

At 15, Ward was an outstanding prospect and travelled to South Africa with the Wellington women's under-19 side.

- © Fairfax NZ News