Steel mix it up off the court
Come 4pm today, they’ll be sporting looks of steel on the court but last night the Southern Steel players were all smiles as they mixed with fans at the club’s first members’ cocktail night.
About 150 people enjoyed some creatively named cocktails with a distinct Steel flavour, including the vodka and orange ‘‘Frewdriver’’, inspired by club captain Wendy Frew.
While she resisted the temptation to have a drink with game day just hours away, Frew said she was excited to be immortalised in liquid.
‘‘I’ve been at the bar making a few, so I’m becoming a bit of an expert on them,’’ Frew said. ‘‘I’ll have to have a crack at home and maybe make it my go-to drink.’’
Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler-Reid said she was thrilled with her namesake, the ‘‘Jamaican Highball’’.
A blend of Malibu, melon liqueur, creme de bananes, pineapple juice and milk, FowlerReid declared the drink ‘‘really good’’.
‘‘It certainly lives up to the name,’’ she said.
‘‘I might have to make it myself – if they give me the chance to get behind the bar tonight I’ll definitely try.’’
Other creatively named concoctions included the ‘‘Gina Colada’’, named after Gina Crampton, the ‘Te Paea SelbyRickit-inspired ‘‘Te Paea Sunrise’’, and the ‘‘Shanngria’’, named in honour of Shannon Francis.
Netball South corporate and communications manager Kate Buchanan said the inaugural members’ cocktail night had followed on from a children’s event at Steel training, giving fans of all ages the chance to mingle with the team.
Steel players will now turn their attentions to keeping their playoff hopes alive when they take on New Zealand conference leaders the Mystics in their final home game at ILT Stadium Southland at 4.10pm today.
Storm Purvis could return to the lineup for the in-form Steel, who are sitting just inside the playoff bubble in third place in the New Zealand conference, ahead of the Central Pulse on percentages.