Steel avenge hammering
Champions win to turn around record defeat against Pulse
The Southern Steel made a resounding comeback in the ANZ Premiership, becoming the second franchise to defeat the Central Pulse this season. The Steel’s victory was a complete turnaround from when the sides last met in round four — the Pulse took down the defending champions by a staggering 31 goals, the biggest win in Premiership history.
But delivering the spark and energy captain Wendy Frew called for, the Steel avenged the devastating loss with a 51-47 victory at Invercargill’s ILT Stadium Southland last night.
In a sluggish and fragmented opening quarter, both sides took to the court with an unusually hesitant rhythm.
The lack of momentum saw goal-for-goal play spark a battle for the upper hand but the Steel went to the first break with a one-goal buffer.
Leading her defence from the front, Frew snatched valuable ball from their Wellington-based opposition.
But Steel shooters Te Paea SelbyRickit and Jen O’Connell struggled to convert under the pressure of the formidable Katrina Grant and Sulu Fitzpatrick. With a strong midcourt to support their efforts, the Pulse made the most of their turnovers.
Pulse shooter Aliyah Dunn, who has become a rising star in the national league, displayed a strong connection with shooting counterpart Tiana Metuarau.
Under the pressure of Steel defender Courtney Elliott, the young shooting duo confidently spread the workload, with Metuarau sinking valuable long-range goals.
Despite a strong comeback that saw the Pulse lead most of the second quarter, they couldn’t hold their advantage as the Steel stormed ahead again.
In an attempt to switch up the shooting circle, Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie called Ameliaranne Ekenasio on to the court at goal attack. Sinking seven of eight goals in the third quarter, the Silver Ferns shooter kept her side in a close contest.
But playing with passion and patience, the Steel snatched another quarter from the Pulse and took a four-point advantage.
Steel midcourter Gina Crampton continued to lead her side for circle feeds in the final stanza as the Silver Fern found effortless connection with her shooters. And with an improved shooting percentage from the Steel, the Pulse needed an all-or-nothing performance in the final minutes of the top-of-the-table clash.
The Pulse fought hard but nothing could stop the Southern champions from delivering an inspiring victory to a passionate home crowd.
The Steel reclaimed second place on the ladder with 16 points, just two behind the Pulse.