Steel Premiership run continues with win over Magic
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Absorbing early pressure, the Southern Steel have consolidated their spot at the top of the ANZ Premiership with a convincing 13-goal win over Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.
The Magic were stil looking for their first points of the season, the Steel weathered the early storm at Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga for 61-48 victory – their fourth-straight win on the trot to go to the top of the Premiership table.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Breaking the deadlock in a key four-minute period of play in the second quarter was the turning point for the Steel, led by the relentless defensive efforts of Carys Stythe and Khanye’ Lii Munro-Nonoa, leadership of Kimiora Poi at centre and the accuracy of both shooters in the circle.
Coach Wendy Frew was able to test a number of combinations on court using her full bench during the 60 minutes and the southerners must take plenty of confidence into the second half of their campaign having gone from strength to strength since their only loss back in the opening round.
In contrast, the Magic found themselves in a must-win moment on their home court with zero points on the ladder and, despite making improvements across the board, suffered their fifth straight defeat.
Playing with a freedom of nothing to lose, the Magic started strongly with Georgie Edgecombe earning the starting centre bib and Sarah Guiney again picking up the goal attack bib in the absence of Saviour Tui who remains sidelined through injury.
Converting turnovers has hurt the Magic this season and it was a similar start to this match when defenders picked up early ball but couldn’t take advantage on the scoreboard.
Backed by their home crowd, Magic stayed in the hunt with the scores locked after five minutes – Guiney stepping into her starting role at goal attack with confidence, working hard off the line and combining well with shooter Kate Taylor.
The match-up between Edgecombe and Poi in the middle promised plenty, and the duo delivered in the opening quarter.
Nothing could separate the two teams at the first break, the score at 14-14, and the question for home fans was whether their team could continue their form for the next three quarters.
Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan played a steady role outside of the circle and took her shooting opportunities when she could.
Waiting for one side to take the upper hand took until the midway mark of the spell when wing attack Serina Daunakamakama snaffled a rare intercept on the transverse line, giving the visitors a two-goal edge.
It sparked a four-minute period of play where the Steel piled on the defensive pressure for a major shift in momentum and a seven-goal difference on the scoreboard.
With just over a minute left in the half, Magic brought Losa Fifita into goal keep with Erena Mikaere moving to goal defence, but the hosts went into halftime trailing 23-31.
They maintained the circle combination in the third spell with Oceane Maihi coming on at wing defence.
But it was at the other end of the court where the wheels started to wobble as the Steel’s defensive unit shut down options.
Frew introduced Josie Bingham into the line with less than five minutes to play with Heffernan replacing Aliyah Dunn.
The mounting pressure took its toll on the Magic and despite nailing the first two two-point shots of the game, still went into the last break down 37-49.
