Steel hang on to home final hopes
The Southern Steel face an anxious wait today to see if they will host the ANZ Premiership elimination final after securing a nail-biting 59-57 win over the Central Pulse in Invercargill yesterday.
With their place already confirmed to play the Tactix in next week’s elimination final, the Steel had hoped for a big win to improve their goal differential to make sure of a home game, but instead had to pull out all the stops just to keep the Pulse at arm’s length in a tight contest.
As a result, their goal differential remains inferior to that of the Tactix and they will sweat on the outcome of today’s match in Christchurch, where the Tactix need to beat the league-leading Mystics to jump into second place and secure home court advantage for the elimination final.
Playing their last match of the season, the Pulse put in a terrific challenge and kept the Steel honest throughout.
A Kelly Jury intercept in the first two minutes of the final quarter, opened the door for the visitors to take the lead for the first time. But that was quickly overshadowed at the other end by Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, who played a forceful hand in helping the Steel avert danger.
The experienced defender gave the Steel the impetus to regain control and forge a six-goal lead before another late charge by the gallant Pulse came too late as the defending champions were once again left with a feeling of what might have been after posting a record eighth bonus point loss.
Both sides were a model of accuracy in a goal-for-goal start, the pair’s attacking lines providing a seamless transition to respective shooters George Fisher and Aliyah Dunn.
There was little on offer for the defenders, the first turnover taking until halfway through the opening stanza as the Steel’s more threatening attack helped the home side gain a slight edge.
Steel captain Shannon Saunders was successful in firing in long-range feeds to Fisher, while wing defence Renee Savai’inaea was a constant disrupter of Pulse attacking raids.
Showing more flow and with slightly more possession, the home side headed to the first break with a 17-14 lead after a high-scoring opening.
The Pulse acted decisively, with defender Jury moving back to goal keep and Paris Lokotui coming off the bench into goal defence on the resumption.
The changes had an immediate effect, with the visitors providing a staunch line of defensive resistance while picking off crucial turnovers.
With the Steel forced to work harder on attack, the contest tightened considerably, the Pulse closing to within one on numerous occasions but failing to take full advantage of their opportunities.
There was plenty of nip and tuck, Sarahpheinna Woulf taking over from defender Selby-Rickit with the ploy of adding extra squeeze on the visiting shooters.
At the other end, the prolific Fisher continued her outstanding season with a perfect first half return of 23 from 23 to steer the home side to a 32-29 lead at the main break.
Selby-Rickit returned in the second half for the home side while Maddy Gordon (centre) and captain Claire Kersten (wing defence) swapped positions for the Pulse in what was an increasingly willing contest.
Both sets of in-circle defenders made the shooters work hard, improved feeding from the Pulse helping the visitors draw within one early in the piece.
In a classic tug of war, the Steel refused to relinquish their lead while the Pulse refused to go away.