Mes unavailable for remainder of 2020 ANZ Premiership

The Northern Mystics will recommence the 2020 ANZ Premiership without the shooting services of Silver Fern Bailey Mes, when it resumes on 19th June.

Mes had been struggling with a Patella cartilage injury which she incurred during the Silver Ferns Netball Nations Cup UK tour has seen her sidelined since the 2020 pre-season campaign began. Undergoing surgery on the 1st May during Level 3 Covid-19 lockdown, she has begun rehabilitation but will miss the entire 2020 ANZ Premiership campaign.

2019 Hamilton U19 representative Asher Grapes, has been elevated from training partner to a fulltime member of the Northern Mystics and will replace Mes in the shooting circle.

The 19-year-old shooter has been offered a full contract with the Mystics for the duration of the 2020 ANZ Premiership. Grapes has already been working alongside the Mystics having been called into the squad as a training partner earlier this year.

Mystics head coach Helene Wilson said they were pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to Grapes who she describes as a hard trainer with a great work ethic and her elevation to the team is reward for her hard work.

“We were personally gutted for Bailey to hear her injury from the Nations Cup tour was season ending, but we are confident she will be back next season as strong as ever,” she said.

“Every injury provides a team an opportunity to grow another player, and we are lucky enough to have a team culture that encourages and supports that philosophy. We have both Saviour Tui and Asher Grapes ready to step up and take the court, and they will have Bailey’s expertise to support them which is really exciting.”

Grapes, who originates from Hawke’s Bay Netball, can play goal attack, wing attack and centre. She was chosen as a Pathway to Podium athlete in 2019 and is currently eligible for the New Zealand U21 team.

She will now join fellow teenagers Grace Nweke and Saviour Tui in the Mystics shooting circle.