Bruce in sparkling form for first Test
MEET the tower of strength that could stand between Laura Geitz and a place in the Australian netball team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
If anybody thought golden girl Geitz would waltz back into the Diamonds line- up for the Gold Coast, young gun Courtney Bruce provided a stark reminder that the World Cup- winning captain will have to earn her berth.
Bruce, 23, made a dream Test debut in the 54- 50 win over England in the Netball Quad Series opener at Boondall on Saturday when she also took MVP honours.
The 189cm- tall goal keeper collected five intercepts, eight deflections and four rebounds to up the ante in the competition for defensive spots with Geitz and Sharni Layton set to come back into the mix along with current squad members April Brandley, Jo Weston and Emily Mannix.
Bruce has played 42 national league matches for the West Coast Fever and was selected for the Quad Series tour of England and South Africa at the start of the year but did not play a Test.
She did star for Australia at the Fast Five tournament last year as part of her journey to a coveted first full appearance for the Diamonds.
Bruce said making her Test debut alongside former Fever teammate and new Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett made the day even more special.
“It was really exciting to be standing next to Bass, someone I’ve known … coming through the ranks in WA,” she said.
Australia will take on South Africa in Canberra on Wednesday night, when New Zealand will host England in Auckland.