Andrew.voerman@stuff.co.nz

The Southern Steel pipped the Mainland Tactix right at the death in the national netball premiership last night, 53-52.

The Tactix have now lost four straight, all of them at their Horncastle Arena home, and while they remain in the third and final playoff spot, they are now three points behind their southern rivals.

They will be wondering how that can be, given they led by six as the final quarter started, but lost the period 14-7.

With only have two home games to come, against the Mystics in Nelson on July 1 and the Pulse in Christchurch 10 days later, and they will be hoping they don’t come to rue not making the most of the five-game home stand just gone.

The Tactix may have been playing their third game in sixth days in Christchurch, but they looked sharp to begin with, as the rarely-seen combination of Ellie Bird and Brooke Leaver thrived in the shooting circle.

The Steel started brightly too, however, and it was a close contest for most of the first quarter, which ended with the Tactix up 15-13.

That tight battle continued into the second and the scores were locked 23-23 when Tactix defender Temalisi Fakahokotau, already on a warning, came flying out of the circle to contest a pass to Steel shooter Jennifer O’Connell and there was a clash of hips that left O’Connell limping off with a quad injury. By halftime, with O’Connell off, the Tactix had opened up a four-goal lead – the first time they had been up at that stage this season.

O’Connell returned midway through the third quarter with her left thigh heavily strapped, but the Tactix grew their advantage to six as the period ended.

The Tactix had won each of the first three quarters 15-13, but began the fourth conceding five straight goals, as the Steel upped their defensive pressure.

It was four minutes before Bird netted to stop the rot, but the Steel kept coming and tied the game with four minutes to play.

Kate Beveridge replaced Leaver in the shooting circle at that stage and netted a crucial tying goal with a minute to go, while Bird did the same 30 seconds later – but there was just enough time for the Steel to go down the other end and find a winner, through Te Paea SelbyRickit.

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic host the Northern Stars in the final game of round six in Tauranga tomorrow night.