Steel lower Vixens to seal top spot
SOUTHERN STEEL MELBOURNE VIXENS 65 56 THE Southern Steel have sealed the top spot in the trans-Tasman netball league with a 65-56 victory over the hard-working Melbourne Vixens.
It was the Steel’s 11th win of the season and gives them an unassailable overall lead in the competition, meaning that the southern franchise will host the grand final, if they qualify.
‘‘We are honoured and very pleased, we have hard work to do, if we play our cards right and push on, hopefully the final will be here,’’ Steel goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler-Reid said.
The Steel got off to an excellent start and managed an early break in possession with a turnover as Vixens goal shoot Karyn Bailey had a nervous early miss.
Neither Steel shooter missed as the hosts led 18-16 after the opening quarter as mid-courters Gina Crampton and Shannon Francois found Fowler-Reid and Te Paea Selby-Rickit with relative ease. The game then became more physical as the Vixens starting putting increased pressure on the Steel attack. with Fowler-Reid taking a knock at one stage.
‘‘Yes it was a bit physical, it was good to have it as we know we are going to have a few of those games coming up,’’ she said.
A flurry of turnovers midway through the second quarter saw the visitors reduce the lead to one as Vixens mid-courters Madi Robinson and Liz Watson started finding their shooter Bailey before she left the court, Alice Teague-Neeld and replacement shooter Kimberly Commane .
The home side changed their attacking structure late in the quarter as Fowler-Reid and Selby-Rickit dealt with the pressure exerted by Jo Weston and Geva Mentor and managed to stretch their one-goal lead to four at halftime, 33-29.
‘‘We couldn’t let them figure out what we were doing. We couldn’t just have one play, they would figure it out and counter it, we had to change,’’ FowlerReid said. JOHN HAWKINS/FAIRFAX NZ
In the third quarter the home side started to dominate proceedings and stretched their lead to 10 points midway through the third quarter.
The Steel took a 47-40 lead into the final quarter and extended their advantage.
(Fowler-Reid 49/54, Te Paea SelbyRickit 16/19), (Teague-Neeld 23/27, Ryde 16/23, Bailey 13/15, Commane 4/5). Q1: 18-16, Q2: 33-29, 47-40.