The 20-year-old from Gore dreams of taking her cricket career to the next level and is putting in the hard yards to hit that goal.  

“I heard about the Otago Cricket scholarship during training, so I decided to apply when I was applying to the nursing programme at Otago Polytechnic. I’m very grateful to have received this scholarship, it has helped me so much.” 

Harriett made her debut for the Otago Sparks in the high-pressure situation of the 2022 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield final, where the Sparks won the title.  

“My current goal is to work and train hard to play more games for the group in the coming season. I am focusing on the areas I need to improve to get myself in a position to be selected.” 

Netball was Harriett’s first sport. She joined cricket originally to support a friend who was the only girl on the team, and found she had a knack for the game. Harriett started playing competitively at age 14. 

“I enjoy being outdoors and in a team environment. My best memories are always around being with my team in the changing rooms or on the field.” 

Keeping up with the demands of a nursing degree and competitive sport is no easy feat, but Harriett takes it all in stride.  

“I have always been busy balancing multiple sports and study, so it feels normal to be busy. I’ve learned to prioritise what needs to be done in a day, getting started on study early so that I can be prepared for all my sporting commitments. I’ve also learned to prioritise sleep instead of overworking myself! 

It took some exploring before Harriett landed on nursing as her calling, and her goal is to graduate next year with her Bachelor of Nursing.  

“I went to university for a year and wasn’t enjoying my course. I started looking at other options and found nursing. I love helping people and learning new things. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. 

“The support from both Otago Cricket and Otago Polytechnic has been invaluable for me.” 

Published 13 July 2023