Firstup win for Steel in preseason tournament

THE Southern Steel has begun its preseason tournament in Otaki with a win.

It beat the WaikatoBay of Plenty Magic 7464 yesterday in the first of three games over the weekend.

After a close start to the game, the Steel made a run towards the end of the first quarter and opened up a 2013 lead.

It held that advantage after bringing on youngsters Jamie Hume, Abby Erwood and Jennifer O’Connell in the second quarter, taking the score to 3830 at halftime.

The Steel was the better team coming out for the second half. It went on several runs and was able to convert turnovers into points.

It led 5747 at threequarter time, but shared the final quar ter with the Magic.

That quarter saw rookie goal shoot O’Connell in the circle and coach Reinga Bloxham said she did a great job of getting position and making a handful of shots.

Bloxham was happy with the game, being focused on the performance rather than the result.

‘‘We played four different combinations and there was some really good stuff,’’ she said.

‘‘Still obviously a few things we need to work on, but pretty happy overall considering we had lots of different combos on the court.’’

The Magic started the game with Casey Kopua and Kelly Jury on the defensive end, giving Jhaniele FowlerReid a strong test in the circle.

South African shooter Lenzie Potgieter provided a good target in the circle and gave the Steel defensive combination of Jane Watson and Te Huinga Reo SelbyRickit a tough matchup.

SelbyRickit left the game with an injured ankle, although Bloxham was unsure how serious it was.

The team is back in action today against the Central Pulse and tomorrow against the Northern Mystics.

Bloxham said the goal remained the same, trying to iron out combinations before the season begins on March 26.

‘‘Just looking at cementing some of these combinations that we’ve got at both ends and also trying to make sure we look after the players that we’ve got here.

‘‘Provide them with enough game time, but not too much that they break, really. So that’s my main focus, just getting everyone out on the court and trying some new combos.’’