Loss makes Steel’s playoff bid tougher
The Southern Steel’s tough road to the playoffs just got tougher after they threw away a handful of giltedged chances to lose 59-53 to the Magic in Hamilton.
With both teams well aware of how tight the run to the playoffs is proving to be, the pressure did little to inspire a quality contest.
What emerged was a scrappy game with neither side really cherishing the ball.
Both teams threw away enough possession for two wins, and with both teams shooting accurately the result came down to the team which wanted the result more.
That proved to be the Magic.
The Steel now have a return game against the Pulse in Palmerston North to look forward to, a game which will decide which team ends up playing in June.
The Steel were the first team to make a break, edging out to 7-5 and forcing a wild centre pass from the Magic.
Just when the Steel had created a chance to pull away, Grace Rasmussen produced a turnover which sparked an impressive run from the Magic, who jumped out to a 16-10 lead.
With things looking dire for the Steel, Shannon Francois hauled in an intercept for the Ascot Park Hotel-sponsored team and they were able to keep the deficit to four goals by the end of the quarter.
Stacey Peeters was introduced into the midcourt at wing defence for the second quarter, with Steel captain Wendy Frew moving to centre for Gina Crampton.
The Steel got to within two goals and then blew a centre pass and it was up to Phoenix Karaka to almost single-handedly get her team back into the game.
Karaka’s presence, and she was getting good support from Jane Watson in the absence of the injured Storm Purvis, was a menace in the Magic shooting circle and the Steel were able to reward her hard work by taking a 30-29 lead at halftime.
English international Jo Harten celebrated her 50th game at trans- Tasman level with a near perfect first half shooting performance.
The Magic pulled their way into the lead early in the third quarter before the Steel once again found their way back into the contest.
After pulling level at 38-38 midway through the quarter, the Steel looked to have blown a major opportunity when Jhaniele Fowler-Reid missed from under the post, but it was the Steel who converted the break.
Three consecutive goals later and the Steel had narrowly won the quarter and extended their lead to two goals heading into the final stanza.
Silver Fern Ellen Halpenny was brought off the bench to replace Malia Paseka at goal attack.
Wendy Frew and Watson conjured up a turnover which helped the Steel out to a four goal lead to start the final quarter.
After a pass went sailing over Fowler-Reid’s head, the Magic broke back to cut the deficit to one goal with 10 minutes to play.
With the Magic leading 53-52 inside the final five minutes, Fowler-Reid was forced to shoot from midrange and her shot got caught up on the front of the rim.
The Magic made the Steel pay, getting out to three goals as the clock became the enemy for the visitors.