Northumbria Shooter Semple Targets Senior Cap

Chiara Semple has vowed to bounce back from a serious ankle injury and keep her Commonwealth Games dream alive.

The Team Northumbria shooter returned from the World Youth Netball Championships in Botswana with a bronze medal.

But Semple limped back to Newcastle on crutches after snapping ankle ligaments just two minutes into England’s quarter-final against Jamaica.

A four-month recovery period beckons for a player determined to make her mark at senior international level.

But a bullish Semple insisted: “I’ll be back.

“My goal for 2018 is to make that jump to senior international netball and at the same time consolidate my position as a starter for Team Northumbria in the Superleague.

“I have to aim high and I’d like to think I could be in the mix for the Commonwealth Games squad assuming my recovery goes to plan.

“I know what I need to do. I need to lose more weight, get fitter and stay focused mentally.

“Then it’s a case of working out how I can make an impression on the senior coaches. All I need is that chance to try out for the senior programme and I’m sure I can make an impact.”

Semple has already made a huge impression on her adopted nation after just two seasons as a Superleague star.

The dual national Kiwi burst onto the scene in 2016 and maintained her remarkable progress in a TN dress this year.

And Semple insists the future is bright for England as she looks ahead to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and 2019’s World Cup.

“There was a big jump between the quality of Australia, New Zealand, England and the rest at the World Youth Championships but I don’t think there’s much to choose at the top.

“We’re on a level playing field with Australia and New Zealand but they used their big game experience and preparation when it mattered most.

“That was the only difference as far as I’m concerned. Talent-wise we can compete with both of those nations.

“Australia appeared to be a bit fitter and a bit smarter than us in the semi-final but there were plenty of positives to take from that game.

“The future looks really good for England. There are a lot of young players looking to win senior contracts in the next few years and I’m one of them.”

Semple faces her toughest challenge to date recovering from an injury that will keep her out of September’s Fast5s at London’s O2 Arena.

But she insists there were more positives than negatives to take out of her time spent with England in Africa.

“I broke my ankle in the first two minutes of the quarter-final and it was pretty clear straight away that I couldn’t carry on,” she added.

“It kept me out of the semi-final which was frustrating and now I face four months on the sidelines.

“It was just a freak injury. But I’m ready for an operation and then the hard work starts.

“In spite of the injury the whole experience at the World Youth Netball Championships was invaluable.

“To get to represent England at that level and get an idea of what standard the other countries are at was hugely important.”