Kelsey Ashworth in action for Mainland in their win over Waikato/Bay of Plenty in Ashburton last month. Photo supplied.When Kelsey Ashworth missed out on the Mainland team for the 2018 Beko Netball League, she considered packing netball in for a while.

But then the former Ashburton woman got a call that changed everything.

“I trialled for the team but was unsuccessful, and I think I played maybe two club games and they contacted me asking if I would come along to a training one night, then they asked Stacey (Peters) and I to be squad members from there on in,” Ashworth said.

She’s gone on to become an integral part of the Mainland team, known for her feisty, body-on-the-line type style which makes her a formidable opponent in the midcourt.

It is a style Ashburton netball fans are hoping they will see again tomorrow, when Ashburton’s EA Networks Centre hosts the side’s final game of the round robin – a must-win match against South if Mainland are to stand a chance of making the grand final.

Ashworth played a key role in Mainland’s first game in Ashburton earlier this season – a win over the side topping the table heading into the defining final round, Waikato/Bay of Plenty.

Ashworth is fit. When she isn’t playing netball, she is a multisporter who completed her first Coast to Coast in 2016 and while on her OE in the UK, represented New Zealand at the World Duathlon Championships.

“After I missed out (on the Beko squad) I thought I’d maybe have a break from netball and focus on multisport again, but I decided to play club, and it’s turned out to be pretty full on. It’s funny how things turn out sometimes,” Ashworth said.

While she was living in the UK, the 25-year-old found keeping up her multisport training wasn’t easy, so she put it aside for a while, turning her attention back to netball and ended up being a training partner for the Wasps Super League team. The Wasps won the title that season, and the next.

Back in New Zealand, it is back to netball for Ashworth, and making the Beko team was one of her goals. Now she’s achieved that, she doesn’t know what will come next.

“I’d love to get an ANZ contract at some point, but realistically age-wise that might be a barrier, but I’ll just keep playing for as long as I can, and as hard as I can,” Ashworth said.

Growing up in Ashburton, Ashworth played for Ashburton College at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Netball Championships, and when she played for the Mid Canterbury Under-17 team she was coached by Andrea Cousins, who today is assistant coach of the Mainland side. The head coach, Ronelle van Dongen, is also a former Ashburton woman, so when the Beko team arrives at Ashburton’s EA Networks Centre on Sunday there will be a real Ashburton flavour to the side.

Ashworth has been a key player this season, but how much she’ll feature on Sunday is unknown.

“I’ve got quite a lot of game time which has been really good because when I first came into the squad I was almost expecting to be a training partner type role, but it’s been really good getting out on court and getting some game time,” Ashworth said.

She was in the 10 last weekend when Mainland lost to Central in Lincoln, a loss which saw them drop from the top of the table and out of the top two, but Ashworth only got five minutes on court.

That loss meant Mainland has to beat South this weekend and rely on other results to go their way if they are to finish in the top two and progress to the final.

Ashworth said Mainland’s season came down to this one game, so there was no room for error, and she hoped Ashburton netball fans would get out and support them, as they did last month.

Sunday’s game at the EA Networks Centre starts at 1.10pm, and entry is $5 for adults while under-16s are free.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 July 2018