Cassidy on move to the Pulse

Regular shooter to play midcourt for new side

Alanah Cassidy's netball career has taken another turn.

The 20-year-old student will pack up her gear and move from Palmerston North to Wellington next year after being selected in the Central Pulse for the 2010 ANZ Championship.

It's nothing new for Cassidy, who has had several moves over the years.

She grew up in New Plymouth, attending Spotswood Primary and then Devon Intermediate, before moving with her family to Hawera. She attended Hawera High School from year nine to 11, with her final two years of secondary school at Tu-Toa in the Manawatu.

"I then headed to do a diploma of exercise sport performance at Wintec in Hamilton," she said this week. "Then I transferred to Ucol in Palmerston North. With my netball commitments, I haven't finished the course. I had plans on returning to Hamilton, but now I'll try to finish my studies in Wellington next year ... I'm not sure where though, but that's OK."

Cassidy, after representing Taranaki at age-group level as a shooter, has had her talents recognised at national level, with selection in the New Zealand under-21 side in 2008 and again this year.

She was with the New Zealand side at the under-21 World Cup tournament in Rarotonga in August, playing in the first quarter of the final against Australia. The Australians went on to win the title.

"I've been selected in the Pulse as a midcourt player, rather than a shooter," she said. "The coach (Yvette McCausland-Durie) sees me as a wing attack. It's a bit different to what I'm used to but it's exciting. I'm looking forward to playing as a wing attack."

Cassidy said the news of her selection came as a "nice surprise. I hadn't expected it."

Cassidy is one of five players with Taranaki connections named in New Zealand squads for the competition – the others are Jess Tuki, Daneka Wipiiti, Erika Burgess and Jamilah Gupwell.

Tuki, a shooter, has been named in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic squad along with Silver Ferns Irene Van Dyk, Casey Williams and Laura Langman. Wipiiti (shooter) and Erika Burgess (midcourt) are both with the Southern Steel, while Gupwell (shooter) is with Cassidy in the Central Pulse line-up.

The news wasn't so good for Cassidy's Feilding clubmate Amber Bellringer.

The former Taranaki shooter, who is studying in Palmerston North, was in the Pulse side in 2008, but missed selection this year and has again missed out.

"We did all right together," Cassidy said.

"We played together this year for Feilding and won the Manawatu premiership title. And then we played together for Western under-21s and the Western Lois Muir team."

- © Fairfax NZ News