Beaumont aiming for the top

Having seen club-mate Alanah Cassidy make the Central Pulse squad this year, Western goal-keep Jodi Beaumont has her eye on following Cassidy to the top level.

Beaumont, a Massey University agri-science student, will lead the defence when Western begin their Lois Muir Challenge campaign against Bay of Plenty in Auckland tomorrow.

Western finished third in their debut effort in the competition last year and Beaumont, 19, said a strong personal performance would have ANZ Championship teams showing interest in her.

"It's definitely one of my goals this year," she said of stepping up to the next tier.

"I really need to play consistently and hopefully that'll lead on to things."

Cassidy, who played for Feilding in the Manawatu Standard Premier Cup last year alongside Beaumont, was in the New Zealand under-21 squad who finished second at the Youth World Cup.

Beaumont was selected in the new under-21 squad named late last year and said Cassidy's rise showed there was a route for players to make the Pulse through rep sides and the under-21 set-up.

"It's quite cool. You sort of don't see it at the time, but looking back on it you can see the pathway you can go through."

Western are co-coached by Nicole Dryden and Annette Pearce this year and there are some new faces in the side.

Miriama Selby-Rickit comes in alongside former New Zealand secondary schools captain Sheridan Bignall and Manawatu's Jess Grinlinton has also been selected.

Beaumont, Bignall and former Pulse mid-courter Lauren Burgess have been chosen as training partners for the Pulse this year.

Despite the side's youthful look, they have some proven performers at this level including centre Kylee Webb, shooter Amber Bellringer and Beaumont.

After meeting Bay of Plenty at midday tomorrow Western play Auckland-Waitakere at 4pm and then tackle North at 11am on Sunday.

The competition continues on April 10 when Western meet Cook Strait in Wellington before finals weekend at Arena Manawatu on April 17 and 18.

Western: Jodi Beaumont (Manawatu), Amber Bellringer (Manawatu-Taranaki), Sheridan Bignall (Manawatu), Lauren Burgess (Taranaki), Sam Burkhart (Taranaki), Whitney Cassidy (Manawatu), Sam Durie-Aranga (Manawatu), Jess Grinlinton (Manawatu), Jodi Hikuroa (Taranaki), Chrisy Longstaff (Taranaki), Miriama Selby-Rickit (Manawatu), Kylee Webb (Manawatu)

- © Fairfax NZ News