By Andrew Gidley

Canterbury Ladies believe they have struck the perfect note by signing South Africa hockey international Kathleen Taylor.

The 24-year-old from Stellenbosch has won more than 30 caps for her country and was named South African women’s hockey player-of-the-year in 2009.

A renowned concert pianist, she holds a British passport and will be with the Polo Farm club for three months, boosting the team’s prospects for the second half of the Women’s Premier Division outdoor season when it resumes next month

Taylor (pictured) has just completed her law exams and Canterbury player-coach Mel Clewlow said: "Kathleen is an exceptional signing and could be devastating for us.

"She is exceptionally quick, works hard and has a good hockey brain for somebody still so young."

Clewlow and South African team-mate Jen Wilson have been talking to Taylor for two months about the prospect of playing in England but only confirmed her decision a fortnight ago.