Netball: Pair's hard work rewarded

Jamie Hume (left) and Abby Erwood at the high performance training centre in Dunedin yesterday....
Jamie Hume (left) and Abby Erwood at the high performance training centre in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Years of hard work have finally paid off for Jamie Hume and Abby Erwood.

The pair signed their first ANZ Championship contracts with the Southern Steel last week to complete the franchise's 12-strong roster for next year's campaign.

Hume (19), who is originally from Clyde, joins Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Brooke Leaver as the fourth shooter on the roster, while Erwood (18) is the fourth defender alongside Storm Purvis, Jane Watson and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.

Both Hume and Erwood are studying in Dunedin, but their contracts will require them to be based in Invercargill next season.

Before moving to Dunedin to study at the start of last year, Hume lived on the family farm near Clyde.

She attended Clyde Primary School and Dunstan High School growing up, and is now studying to be a primary school teacher.

Hume found out she was being offered a contract last Monday when Steel coach Janine Southby called, and admitted to having mixed feelings about moving to Invercargill.

''I was so excited and then [Janine] said about Invercargill and I was like, 'Oh, OK','' she said.

''But it's all good. I had never thought Invercargill would be an option, but I can't change it. I've heard good things and bad things, but I'm sure it will be fine. It will be an experience.

''I was just overwhelmed and so excited.''

Hume is still figuring out how she will juggle her study next year, but will probably take the first semester off, before returning to Dunedin at the end of the ANZ Championship season for the second semester.

She has been inundated with messages and phone calls of support since her signing was announced on Sunday, and said it had been a ''cool week''.

Despite being ''overwhelmed'' herself, her dad was even more excited, Hume said.

''I found out on the Monday and I had to basically keep it a secret until it was released,'' she said.

''It was harder on dad. I think he told everyone and told them to keep it a secret.''

Hume, who was part of the Dunedin under-19 team that finished second in the national championships in Auckland in July, has played the majority of her netball at goal attack.

However, the 1.82m shooter played goal shoot for College A in the Dunedin club competition, and even played wing attack for Dunedin in Auckland.

Erwood has a twin sister, Sophie, and moved to Dunedin from the family's Waitahuna farm at the start of the year to study commerce at the University of Otago.

The 1.81m defender got called into the Steel's squad for a week after Purvis picked up an ankle injury in this year's ANZ Championship.

She did not get off the bench against the Magic in Hamilton, but is now just happy to have a contract.

''I actually missed the call,'' she said.

''Mum picked up and then I came inside and she told me. I was like, 'Yeah, whatever'.

''Then I rung Janine back and she told me. I had a meeting with [chief executive Lana Winders] and signed my life away.

''I was quite shocked and surprised. I was so happy and everything has finally paid off.''

Like Hume, Erwood plans to skip the first semester of study next year, before returning to Dunedin after the season to resume her studies.

However, she is also considering picking up some papers at SIT in Invercargill. Erwood and Hume are in the Dunedin team for the national championships in Wellington starting on September 28, and both also have aspirations of making the national junior team for the world championships in Botswana next year.

The Southern Steel goes into camp on January 25.

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