Pettit pipped for World Cup

SPURNED for Australia’s Netball World Cup title defence, NSW Swifts star Susan Pettitt has received some consolation through inclusion in the 2015- 16 national squad.

Pettitt joins young Queensland Firebirds gun Gretel Tippett and Adelaide Thunderbirds goal shooter Carla Borrego as new inclusions in coach Lisa Alexander’s 22- player squad named yesterday, putting them in contention for October’s four- Test Constellation Cup series against New Zealand.

In- form shooter Pettitt was overlooked by Alexander for the 12- strong Diamonds squad to contest the World Cup in Sydney in August, despite the 31- year- old’s blistering season with the Swifts, during which she scored 422 goals at an average of 88 per cent. She was edged out for the contentious second goal attack bib by the Thunderbirds’ Erin Bell.

Pettitt, Borrego and Tippett were also chosen as three of six training partners to assist the World Cup team’s preparations during the next month.

The Diamonds will undergo a fiveday training camp in Newcastle from July 31 to August 4.