Strong start paves way for Steel win
AN early onslaught paved way for the Southern Steel to get its season off to a winning start. yesterday.
It was far from perfect but it ran out a 5547 winner over the Northern Mystics in Palmerston North on the ANZ Premiership’s opening Super Sunday weekend.
The result was always comfortable, a 178 first quarter setting the platform for the Steel to lead by 15 heading into the final quarter. Losing the final quarter 1811 was surely never in the plan.
However, with another game tonight, the Steel had made several changes to give its experienced players some extra rest.
Up until that point the Steel was dominant, shooting out to a 165 lead early on. The defence was disruptive and the attack showed its ability to be patient and look after the ball.
Goal shoot Jennifer O’Connell was physical in the circle and shot well throughout the first half to make 20 of 23 goal attempts.
She showed the Steel should cope fine in the postJhaniele FowlerReid era and combined well with Te Paea SelbyRickit, who was sublime at times.
That ensured it led 178 at the quarter break and it extended that to 3221 at halftime.
Coach Reinga Bloxham was not exactly sure what was behind the great start, although had been pleased with it.
‘‘I think they were quite focused. They knew what their jobs were and there was good purpose and intent in the warmup and that sort of flowed through on to the court,’’ she said.
‘‘We were just really patient looking after our possession and just made sure anything else we had we took it to post and scored as well.’’
The goals slowed down in the third quarter for the Steel but its defence, coupled with poor shooting from the Mystics, enabled it to extend the lead to 4429.
Bailey Mes’ struggles at goal shoot from the Commonwealth Games continued. She managed just 14 from 27, her confidence seeming to spiral downwards as the game progressed.
That culminated in her being shifted to goal attack and Amani brought on at goal shoot midway through the third quarter. She made an immediate impact, scoring 19 goals in a quarter and ahalf, shooting at 90%.
Meanwhile, the Steel was out of sorts. Its shooting percentage plummeted to 58% in the fourth quarter.
Te Paea Selby Rickit attracted more defensive attention with O’Connell on the bench and Olivia Bates struggled to be a shooting threat.
Bates had been introduced at halftime alongside Dani Gray and Courtney Elliott, making for a young lineup in the second half.
Bloxham had been glad to get all three some experience, although admitted the side took a while adapting to the new combinations.
She was also pleased to give O’Connell, Wendy Frew, Te Huinga SelbyRickit and Abby Erwood breaks before tonight’s game against the Central Pulse.
She said it was something to consider on the doubleheader weekends and was glad to have been in a position to make those changes. That game, which will also be in Palmerston North, begins at 7.45pm.
BLACK Gold proved to be too strong for the newly promoted Southern P with a 3813 win in South Otago club netball in Balclutha on Saturday.
Despite the high score, the game was not a walkover for last year’s winner.
Southern competed hard in all quarters but especially the third, keeping Black Gold to five goals.
However, Black Gold goal shoot Mona Waikato had her eye in early, taking longrange shots that were hard for the defenders to stop.
Also working hard in the shooting circle was Kayla Redshaw.
All up, Waikato missed just six shots, which was still one more than she hoped for at the start of the match.
Southern, coached by Noeline Scott, could not compete with the strong defensive lineup of Black Gold, and midcourter Amy Morrison disrupted its game, causing a lot of turnover ball.
Erin Pellet and Eloise Lloyd combined well in the shooting circle for the winning side, while defenders Caitlin Gouman and Samara Soper worked tirelessly against the inform shooters.
It was the first day of the regular season after three rounds of grading days.
Erin Pellet worked hard all day for the defeated side.
In other results for the premier grade, Hillend went down to a very polished Redwyns 3911.
The Redwyns club has rejoined the competition after a year out and has taken a few weeks to work out combinations.
But the players came out with fire in their bellies and dominated in all aspects of the game.
Best for Hillend was Tiriti Erihe, while Nadia Lyders worked hard for Redwyns.
Clutha had a 2619 win over South Otago High School. Emily Melville was good for Clutha and Kaya Laban impressed for the school side.