GAMES CAN WAIT AS CUP TAKES CENTRE STAGE
LIZ Watson refuses to think ahead of this month’s Constellation Cup as she continues to enhance her claim on a starting midcourt spot with the Diamonds for next year’s Commonwealth Games.
As the Diamonds hit back from their quad series loss to New Zealand with a threegoal win over the Silver Ferns in Auckland on Thursday, the Melbourne Vixens vice-captain took another step towards establishing herself as the team’s first choice wing attack.
Watson was given the starting nod at wing attack alongside Kim Ravallion in centre in the first Constellation Cup battle, carrying on her strong form from August’s quad series as the team’s long-time star in the role – Madi Robinson – sits out this four-Test clash.
While Watson said she felt more comfortable every time she stepped on court, the 23-year-old acknowledged every player in the team was only as safe as their last performance.
“It’s obviously a dream to be there (Commonwealth Games), but we know how hard you have to work to get there and our squad is so talented that we can chop and change players in and out based on performance,’’ Watson said.
“Even with the 13 players travelling with us on this tour, we know that performance is huge and that is what we’re getting used to game after game.
“I’m not thinking about that at all. I’m here for Constellation Cup right now and making sure that the main focus at this point in time is game two, then game three and then whatever happens from there is going to be based on the performances that you put out right now.’’
Watson, who now has nine Test caps to her name, felt her game had already grown since the start of the quad series, which followed a best-and-fairest season with the Melbourne Vixens.
The Diamonds arrived yesterday for tomorrow’s second Constellation Cup Test before the series heads to Australia for the final two Tests held in Adelaide and Sydney.