Thayer secures contract in Singapore

BRIDGET Thayer was preparing to for club netball’s preseason tournament when she got a call offering something much more exotic.

The 23yearold flies to Singapore on Monday, having secured one of six overseas import contracts in the country’s national league.

It had come at short notice for the UniversityAlbion shooter, who had put her name forward after Southern Steel player Reinga Bloxham told her about the opportunity.

After initially missing out on a spot, Thayer received a second call less than two weeks ago, the day before the Dunedin preseason club tournament.

She was told someone had pulled out of their contract and was offered the spot, which she quickly agreed to.

‘‘There was a fair bit of jumping around the living room for a good sort of five minutes,’’ she said.

Thayer did not have too many details yet and was not even sure what team she would play for.

However, she and the rest of the imports would join the competition for its second

round and playoffs, set to return on May 14.

She would live in a hostel with the other imports and all her expenses would be covered.

The level of play was also an unknown.

However, having played in the 2016 champion South Beko League team and various Otago and Dunedin teams, she has plenty of experience to draw on.

‘‘I’m not really sure what level of netball to expect over there.

‘‘I don’t know if it’s right up at that ANZ [premiership] level or at the Beko [league] level, so it could be anything.

‘‘But I’d expect somewhere in the middle of that, probably.’’

She rated making the side ‘‘right up there’’ as far as things she has achieved goes.

In her second year out of university, she had spent the summer working at Treble Cone, while living with her parents in Central Otago.

She was planning on coming back to Dunedin — where she has lived for 11 years — when the call came.

Now that return will be delayed, but she plans to link up with UniversityAlbion after her time in Singapore.

❛ I’m not really sure what level of netball to

expect over there