Breathing room for Steel

The Southern Steel opened up some breathing space on the crowded netball premiership ladder by netting their first win on the road this season on Sunday evening.

A 56-52 win over the Central Pulse in Porirua consolidated the Steel in third place, now three points clear of the defending champions.

But it took every ounce of southern fight to snatch the win.

The final spell was full of action: two players were forced from the court after a check for blood with just under four minutes to play — Steel defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit making her way to the bench along with Pulse goal attack Te Amo AmaruTibble.

The drama continued as Steel goal keep Taneisha Fifita was given two minutes on the bench after her second warning for dangerous play leaving the visitors to contest the last minutes of the game with six players.

The Pulse were unable to take full advantage of the player difference, although they grabbed a valuable bonus point in the last minute of the game.

● Coverage of last night’s matches, which saw the Tactix host the Mystics before the Magic played host to the Stars, is available on www.nzherald.co.nz