Kiwis go to world champs

The under-19 New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse team is heading to Scotland to do battle in the world champs.

Every Sunday the side congregates at College Rifles Park to train from 9am to 4pm in the summer heat.

Players come from all over Auckland and many travel up from the Waikato.

‘‘The trainings are very high intensity because we are coming up for weekly sessions, they last the day which allow for a good amount of time to practice lots of skills, set plays and fitness,’’ Mt Albert Grammar student Georgia Carter says.

Currently the New Zealand side is ranked 12th in the world and the girls are hoping to boost their rank into the top eight, team-mate and Grey Lynn resident Ellen Hackett says.

‘‘We definitely are in with a chance but it won’t be handed to us on a silver platter,’’ Hackett says.

‘‘The hard work we put in now is what will be reflected on the field and will determine our status.’’

The New Zealand girls could come up against some of the tops sides in the world including USA, Canada and England.

While Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the country, Epsom resident Harriet Beattie says it’s virtually nonexistent in the South Island.

‘‘It was particularly challenging while I was down in Dunedin for University last year,’’ Beattie says. ‘‘Auckland has a fantastic and very competitive club competition, which takes place over the summer.’’

Seventeen-year-old Tori Crisford plays her club Lacrosse for College Rifles and is excited about heading to Scotland to represent her country.

‘‘I’m looking forward to being able to experience a new culture,’’ Crisford says.

‘‘The competition will be very tough as we’ll be playing against the best players in the world at the under-19 level.’’

Lacrosse is played with a stick or crosse and is a high intensity, fast-paced game.

‘‘Lacrosse is the perfect combination of athleticism, speed, handeye co-ordination and also strategy. It combines so many elements of other sporting codes into one game,’’ Beattie says.

The girls are fundraising $10,000 each.

National reps: Tori Crisford, Georgia Carter, Harriet Beattie and Ellen Hackett are hoping to take the under-19 New Zealand Women’s Lacrosse team into the top eight in the world.