Netball: Crampton vying for spot

Gina Crampton throws a pass over Stacey Peeters at the Edgar Centre on Thursday. Photo by Linda...
Gina Crampton throws a pass over Stacey Peeters at the Edgar Centre on Thursday. Photo by Linda Robertson.

Gina Crampton has plenty to play for in the Steel's final two pre-season games this weekend.

The 23-year-old midcourter is entering her third full year with the team, and will make her final claim for the starting wing attack spot against the Central Pulse and Mainland Tactix today and tomorrow in Otaki.

Crampton, who replaced the injured Courtney Tairi during the 2012 season, has had limited game time in recent years, but has been sharp since the squad formed in December.

''It's always an aspiration to actually play, but I've got to earn my spot, so hopefully, I can try and do that this weekend,'' she said.

Just over a week out from the team's season opener against the New South Wales Swifts, Crampton said there was a ''cool'' feeling around the team.

''Everyone is very excited,'' she said.

''We are all really encouraging towards each other and we are all working well as a group. Even though we are young, we have different levels of experience throughout.

''You feel like you can try out new things and aren't afraid to give things a go in the group. It's a positive environment.''

The 1.74m wing attack will be boosted by some extra support from her family, who live in Wellington, over the weekend.

Born in Hamilton, Crampton moved to the capital with her family when she was 5, before coming to Dunedin to study in 2010.

Crampton, who plays club netball for Southern, studied physical education and personal training, before completing postgraduate studies in physical conditioning, over the past five years.

She is now in charge of elite fitness at Columba College, and is in the process of setting up her own business.

In addition to playing for the Steel since 2012, Crampton was a key part of the Otago/Dunedin team which won the national provincial competition in 2012 and 2013.

She was to captain the team last year, but broke a finger at training in the lead-up to the competition.

Crampton is one of six Steel players based in Dunedin, and lives with defender Storm Purvis and shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit in St Kilda.

Before the team's final two hit-outs before the real deal begins next weekend, Crampton knows what the team needs to work on today and tomorrow.

''We just really need to secure our connections,'' she said.

''We had a relatively good [pre-season] tournament in Sydney, so just building on that so we can be confident going into our first game.''

The Steel trained in Dunedin on Thursday, before travelling to Otaki yesterday.

Coach Janine Southby has just nine players to choose from this weekend, as defender Phoenix Karaka and shooters Sophia Fenwick and Brooke Leaver are unavailable through injury.

Fenwick, who took a knock at training on Thursday, is the latest on the list, but her omission is ''precautionary to have her right for the first game'', Southby said.

Karaka is still recovering from a knee she sprained in the team's final game in Sydney a fortnight ago, while Leaver has a back complaint.

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