The Southern Steel have given their ANZ Premiership finals hopes a huge boost with a thrilling win over the Northern Mystics.
In a match played with finals intensity, the Steel pipped the Mystics 61-58, ending their five-game winning run in Invercargill on Sunday.
This was a pivotal win for the Steel, who moved to second on the table on 27 points, but will be overtaken by the Stars or Tactix winner on Monday.
With two round games left, the Steel have put themselves in a strong position to make the top three finals, finishing with the Stars (away) and the Pulse at home. If they keep winning, they will be playing finals netball.
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The win also saw the Steel capture the Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy for the third straight time, which means plenty to the southerners given all Salter did for netball in the south. Steel coach Reinga Bloxham is Salters niece.
The Steel delivered one of their best performances of the season, leading the whole game, but often only by a matter of goals. Despite the loss, the Mystics are well-placed to finish first and secure an automatic place in the August 8 grand final.
Steel goal shoot George Fisher controls the ball against the Mystics on Sunday.
Midcourters Shannon Saunders, Kate Heffernan, and Renee Savai’inaea were industrious on both attack and defence for the Steel in the win.
Tiana Metuarau’s excellent first season with the Steel continued, landing 22 goals from 26 attempts, delivering some accurate ball into George Fisher.
Metuarau is the form goal attack in New Zealand domestic netball and must be on the Silver Ferns selectors radar.
Prolific Mystics’ goal shoot Grace Nweke finished with 50 from 57, but the Steel were able to slow the connection between her and wing attack Peta Toeava at times and limit their impact. Bailey Mes was limited to just 26 minutes for the Mystics, having another quiet game with two goals from three attempts and seven assists.
Tiana Metuarau had another impressive game for the Steel in their win over the Mystics.
English international Fisher returned to the Steel starting lineup after returning via the bench last week. The standout goal shoot suffered a head knock on June 19 and having her back in the starting seven was a huge lift for the Steel. Fisher finished with 39 goals from 41 attempts, playing the full 60 minutes.
The Steel took a 31-29 lead into halftime, but the Mystics were on level terms in the early minutes of the second half, setting up a tense second half.
In a pulsating third quarter, the teams regularly traded goals with little separating the teams and the Steel clinging to the lead.
A 2-0 start to the final quarter from the Mystics levelled the score at 47-all. The Steel were able to absorb every mini-run from the Mystics, keeping their composure and scoring several goals in a row themselves.
Shannon Saunders gets a pass away in the Steel’s win over the Mystics on Sunday.
The first quarter was an absorbing affair with the goals flowing at either end of the court and the game starting at a high intensity.
Spurred on by a near sellout crowd at Stadium Southland, the Steel pushed out to a three goal advantage at 14-11, but the Mystics replied right back.
The Steel went on a 4-1 run to close out the first term and head into the first quarter break with a three goal lead (18-15).
Two straight goals to open the second quarter allowed the Steel to push ahead and build a crucial five-goal buffer against the quick-scoring Mystics.
Steel’s Kate Heffernan, left and Mystics’ wing defence Fa’amu Ioane race for a loose ball.
Late in the first half the Steel pushed their lead out to six goals (31-25), but the Mystics finished strongly to head into halftime with confidence, down by two (31-29).
The Mystics would have been content to go into the main break trailing by just two goals, given they weren’t at their best in the first 30 minutes and had some sloppy passages of play.
With four minutes to go Silver Fern Phoenix Karaka took to the court for the Mystics for the first time this season, returning after the birth of her first child in January.
Karaka’s introduction couldn’t spark the Mystics, who had too much ground to make up with the Steel holding on for what might prove a critical win come the end of round play.
AT A GLANCE:
Steel 61 (George Fisher: 39/41, Tiana Metuarau: 22/26) Mystics 58 (Grace Nweke: 50/57, Bailey Mes: 2/3, Filda Vui: 6/6) 1Q: 18-15, HT: 31-29 3Q: 47-45.
Stuff MVP points: Renee Savai’inaea 3, Kate Heffernan 2, Tiana Metuarau 1.
