Katrina News Online

As the Silver Ferns results this season have been a bit of mix bag, there have been a number of individual hit stories.

One such player who has developed well is Katrina Grant a young defender, who has formed a deadly defensive combination with captain Casey Williams.

Hampered by a recurring hip-flexor injury previously in the season, Katrina Grant made only a limited impact at goal defense in her first few test outings for the Ferns.

But a switch to goal keeps during the Australian series saw Grant initiate to make her mark.

With the athletic New Zealand captain out at the front hunting for intercepts, and the efficient Katrina Grant cleaning up in the back, the pair has solidified their status as New Zealand’s favorite defensive combination.

Katrina Grant, who has formed a tight bond with Williams on and off the court, is delighted with the way their defensive partnership has come all along this season.

Katrina Grant says “We’ve both grown in our roles and I think our combination is coming along pretty nicely.”

“I love it. It has been a great experience and you can’t really ask for a much better goal defense to have out in front of you.”

The pair was at their dominant best in the final test win over Australia in Auckland previous month, but since then has to quickly adjust to different styles.

Katrina Grant’s latest challenge has been trying to contain 1.96m Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken, who is well serviced by crafty goal attack Simone Forbes and the defender admits she did not make as much impact as she would have liked in Wednesday’s opening test, but is hoping to obtain another crack today.

“Coming off playing Australia in those 5 tests where they had the shorter shooters and we have kind of had to change our game plan a wee bit adjacent to the taller shooters. It’s tough - you certainly spend a lot of time off the ground that is for sure, but you just have to be constant and hope it pays off.”