Wilkins Rushed Into Action
Tagged in: In The News, Tall Ferns
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Geoff Longley, The Press
NZ Tall Fern Donna Wilkins will step off the plane from Europe and almost straight onto the court for the Christchurch Sirens in its Australian women’s national basketball league opener against Townsville on Friday night.
Wilkins had been on a honeymoon holiday, watching World Cup rugby in France but will be drafted into action immediately after landing back in Christchurch.
It’s probably handy the Westpac Arena in Addington is not far from the airport, although Sirens coach Leigh Gooding is not pushing Wilkins into the starting line-up.
“It will be a pretty torrid start for her so she is likely to come off the bench,” said Gooding, who last night named his 12 member squad for the match.
Another player yet to arrive who has also been named is American import Lamisha Augustine who is expected from the United States Thursday.
Delays in her visa documentation mean Augustine (25) is a week later than planned.
Gooding said while the late arrivals were far from ideal, most of the squad had sufficient time together training pre-season and in camp with the Tall Ferns last week for the Oceania series in Dunedin.
Two promising teenagers from Canterbury Georgina Richards and Natalie Moore have been included in the 12 for the Sirens inaugural match in the league.
A number of other talented locals have been training with the Sirens, but several of those are eyeing college scholarships in America and cannot play in a semi-professional league, as the competition is regarded. Richards and Moore suit up with the injuries to Charmian Purcell (knee) and Noni Wharemate (back).
Purcell has had knee surgery and has resumed running but is unlikely to play until December.
Wharemate is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after being diagnosed with a prolapsed disc in her back.
Gooding said the likelihood of recent Silver Fern goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti appearing for the Sirens this season was slim.
“Because of her netball commitments and where she is living (Auckland) there is only a very outside chance now of her playing.”
Squad: Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (c), Ashley Awkward, Lamisha Augustine, Natalie Purcell, Toni Edmondson, Aneka Kerr, Lisa Wallbutton, Suzie Bates, Donna Wilkins, Karelene Kingi, Georgina Richards, Natalie Moore.
