Sharp Steel trim Firebirds wings
The Steel rolled the Firebirds like a bona fide southern ‘r’ in their topof-the-table ANZ netball championship match yesterday.
Amid a cacophony of blue thundersticks in Dunedin’s Edgar Centre, the Noeline Taurua-coached franchise outwitted their Queensland counterparts 66-51 using a strategy maximising speed and accuracy. The Steel midcourt of captain Wendy Frew, Shannon Francois and Gina Crampton delivered the sort of service any courier company would love to recruit and Jhanielle Fowler-Reid and Te Paea SelbyRickit prospered.
The Firebirds’ defence, albeit weakened without the services of Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman, was no match. Fowler-Reid (51 from 57 shots) and Selby-Rickit (15 from 17) also had the better of the shooting over their counterparts.
The Steel went 14-10 ahead in the first quarter on the back of seven rebounds; the Firebirds procured none. The hosts advanced to 31-19 at halftime before the defending champions clawed back to 47-37 after the third quarter. Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit earned plaudits with five rebounds, four deflections and three intercepts on defence.
The Steel were more disciplined and had the better of the contact penalties and turnovers.
Taurua cannot secure the gig as Silver Ferns mentor but, as the only New Zealand coach to win the ANZ Championship — in 2012 with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic — she looks every chance to repeat the feat with the Steel.
The Steel are now the only unbeaten team in the competition, stretching their commanding lead in the New Zealand conference to 11 points over the Magic, who host the Tactix tomorrow night.
The Magic will be without shooter Malia Paseka, who yesterday announced she is expecting a baby and will not take any further part in the ANZ championship. No replacement is being sought.
The Mystics travel to take on the Vixens today and the Pulse host the Thunderbirds.