Charlton reaches 100 caps

Debuting for New Zealand at the start of 2010 Tauranga defender Sam Charlton never thought she would be playing her 100th international test cap four years later at 22.

'I think it took me two years to get to 20, so to think that I only played my 50th cap in April last year and to be playing my 100th about 15 months later is pretty incredible. They fly by so quickly because we play so many but it's always really special to be playing,” says Charlton.


Black Stick defender Sam Charlton.

Looking back after making her debut against Australia in Perth in 2010, the former Otumoetai College student thinks June's FIH World Cup was her highlight but is hoping the Commonwealth Games will trump that.

'Although we didn't make the top four, after we drew that game against Australia we did do the best we could which is really great. I think this is also a highlight, I have never been to a Commonwealth Games before so it is really exciting and hopefully we do well.”

Charlton is joined by Midlands and Bay of plenty teammates Gemma Flynn and Rose Keddell at the Glasgow games as the side looks to add to its Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2010.

Her dad is over in Glasgow and her cousin also came to watch the game against India.

'It's pretty cool knowing family is over here and although you don't really ever hear or see them when you're playing it's nice to know that there's lots of support in the stands.

'There are lots of parents here - I think there are 10 or so sets of parents here to watch us play. It's pretty cool that they have come half the way across the world to watch us play.”

Coach Mark Hager knows how important Charlton is to the team and believes she has grown so much as a player in the last two years.

'She is one of the key players in our group now and brings a real toughness to our defence, she can tackle but can also go forward with the ball and I think she is growing each time she steps out on the pitch and obviously to have her, Stacey [Michelsen], Emily [Naylor] and Kayla [Whitelock] as that four at the back allows us to bring on the new, less experienced players of the future to play alongside them,” says Hager.

He says to see such courage and determination is just fantastic.

'I remember talking to her in 2012 and saying that her chances of going to the Olympics were pretty slim. And she went away and worked on her fitness and at the National Under-21 Tournament she got player of the tournament. So we took her away on a series, and she played really well at that.

'She turned her fitness levels around in six months which helped her to make better decisions on the pitch and she was able to stay on the field longer periods and really grew as a player. In the end, I think she was one of the better players at the London Olympics.”

The Black Stick Women's side remains unbeaten in pool play after thrashing Trinidad and Tobago 17-0 and India 3-0 so far this tournament.

Wins against South Africa and Canada will guarantee them top spot in the pool and a likely semifinal against England on August 3.

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