High hopes for Semple’s season finale
TEAROHA Keenan expects Chiara Semple to finish her season in style after the in-form shooter secured her seat on the plane to this summer’s Netball World Youth Cup.
Team Northumbria’s coach has been instrumental in preparing her fellow Kiwi for a shot at international glory with England’s Under-21 squad.
But Keenan is tipping dual national Semple to focus fully on the final three games of her Netball Superleague season – starting with tonight’s clash at Severn Stars.
“This is a dream come true for Chiara,” said her proud coach. “She has developed really well in her two years at Northumbria University with regular court time in the NSL.
“I’m really pleased she will be at the World Youth Cup and I’m confident she’ll make a real impression out there.
“When I congratulated her on her call-up she insisted she’d already put it to the back of her mind and that she was concentrating on finishing the NSL season in style.”
Semple has the fourth best shooting percentage in the top flight with an 87.7% record.
And she impressed during last week’s England Under-21 training camp to secure her place on the flight to Africa this summer.
“I enjoyed stepping up a level with the England players last week and it was great to test myself again,” she said.
“It was a tough week coming into the Bath game on Monday but I was pleased with how it went and I’m excited to make the squad.”
Semple hit a buzzer-beating goal against Bath as TN claimed the final quarter of their last home game of the season in front of another packed Sport Central crowd.
The England Under-21 squad leaves for a holding camp in Pretoria, South Africa at the start of July before heading on to Gaborone, Botswana for the Netball World Youth Cup which starts on July 8.