Steel hope to dispel Magic hold on Hamilton

They have added three competition points from their past two games, but the Southern Steel are still chasing a top performance.

A dramatic draw with the Thunderbirds in Dunedin, followed by an even more dramatic win over the Pulse at the same venue, has boosted the Steel to second spot in the New Zealand conference on goal percentage from the Magic.

With the two teams meeting tomorrow, Steel coach Janine Southby knows her side needs to continue its upward trajectory if it is going to claim its first win in Hamilton.

‘‘We are

pleased

to

take

the points, but I think we are still a little bit away from our perfect performance,’’ Southby said.

‘‘We are a young group and they are still learning. We need to put out a full attacking 60 minutes and a full defensive 60 minutes, and we are still guilty of not doing that.’’

The Steel hosted the Magic in Invercargill last month, getting close in the second half before going down 63-57.

‘‘We were really disappointed in ourselves after that game, and I mean no disrespect to the Magic,’’ Southby said.

‘‘We felt we had let ourselves down in some areas, so that’s been a focus for us since then. We’ve shown some progress, but they need the win just as much as we do, it’s going to be a really tough game.

‘‘We need to take it to them. I think we were guilty of standing, at times, last time we played them, and letting them take it to us.’’

The Ascot Park Hotelsponsored team has been coping with the loss of Storm Purvis, one of its best this season, after she suffered a lateral ligament injury in her left ankle against the Pulse.

Southby is optimistic Purvis will be back for the vital return game against the Pulse next week, but with only two other circle defenders – Phoenix Karaka and Jane Watson – in the squad, the Steel are looking for a short-term replacement.

‘‘It is a blow when one of your valued members isn’t there, but I’ve got confidence in every one of the players.

‘‘A replacement is a work in progress and unfortunately there’s not a great depth in experienced defenders just sitting in the wings waiting for their chance to come back again.’’

Meanwhile, the Firebirds will defend the Challenge Trophy for the first time after taking it from inaugural holders the West Coast Fever.

They will host the Vixens at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhi- bition Centre, a venue they have won four of their past six games at.

The Swifts will wear temporary tattoos in support of the Kids’ Cancer Project during their game against the Thunderbirds.

Swifts coach Rob Wright has been given a 12-month extension on his contract.

Monday will see the Pulse try to rebound from their one-goal loss to the Steel when they take on the Tactix in Porirua.

The Pulse have won nine of their past 10 games against the Tactix, who will be celebrating foundation player Anna Thompson’s 100th game for the embattled franchise.

Trans-Tasman netball round 11 Sunday 2.18pm: Firebirds vs Vixens, Gold Coast 4.18pm: Swifts vs Thunderbirds, Sydney 7.10pm: Magic vs Steel, Hamilton Monday 7.40pm: Pulse vs Tactix, Porirua