Steel win southern derby in the ANZ Netball Championships

Steel overcame a slow start to retain their unbeaten record at the Edgar Centre on the back of an outstanding game from shooter Paula Griffin after losing to the same opponents by five goals nine days ago.  The former Silver Fern revelled in a positional switch to goal shoot after a sluggish first quarter at goal attack. As the goals started to drop, Steel’s intensity and confidence showed a noticeable lift as they went on to control the final three-quarters of the match. 

 

Despite the loss of reliable midcourter Phillipa Finch to injury shortly after the start, the Tactix shaded their hosts throughout the opening stanza. Replacement centre Kiley Hikawai, in her first-ever ANZ Championship match, slotted in like a veteran as the visitors showed superior movement and urgency on attack, ingredients missing in their last outing.

 

Defenders Charlotte Kight and Anna Galvan put the squeeze on shooters Daneka Wipiiti and Griffin as Steel’s scoring options and accuracy dried up. At the other end, veteran goal attack Donna Wilkins marshalled the Tactix attack line expertly, opening up the spaces while also delivering under the post. Her nine-out-of-nine return for the first quarter helped the Tactix take a 15-10 lead into the first break.

 

Switching Wipiiti to goal attack and Griffin to goal shoot ignited some spark in the previous lack lustre Steel on the resumption. Finding more fluency on attack and with Griffin potting goals from all points of the circle from her more comfortable zone of goal shoot, Steel chipped away at the deficit to come right back into the game.

 

The home team’s defensive end also recovered from a slow start with Leana de Bruin and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit disrupting the Tactix' previous dominance on attack. Keeping Wilkins well contained, the Steel enjoyed a greater share of the ball, turning a five-goal deficit into a 25-23 lead at halftime.  Steel broke free in the last five minutes of the third quarter after the teams had level-pegged until that stage. Anna Thompson’s shooting accuracy slipped as she missed several crucial opportunities for the Tactix to get back on level terms.

 

In contrast, Griffin was a model of consistency at the other end, steering the Steel out to a handy lead with her accuracy under the hoop. De Bruin and Selby-Rickit heaped pressure on the visiting shooters as they got their hand to a lot of bonus ball with expert spoiling tactics.  Playing their fourth game in nine days, the heavy workload in recent days looked to take its toll on the Tactix as Steel headed into the last break with a comfortable 38-30 lead.