Latest news with #SouthernSteel
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Win boosts confidence for Steel
It is always easier to get back to business after a big win. The Southern Steel are riding high after beating the Northern Stars 62-46 last week, a victory that will have helped the team's confidence. Steel coach Wendy Frew said it had been a tough couple of weeks after three consecutive losses, and she was proud of her team's performance. "Really happy with the girls stepping up against the Stars and getting the win," Frew said. "We put some good netball out there and obviously also have a couple of things to work on. "A timely win for us and just keeps us in the hunt." Defensively it was a big step up from her back three, who picked up eight intercepts and 13 deflections, and their defence on the centre pass lifted another notch. Shooter Aliyah Dunn continued her dominant season, only missing one one-pointer, and one two-pointer, and Frew commended her performance. "She definitely is playing her best netball, I think," Frew said. "It's actually through so much hard work, she's doing extras two, or three, times a week. "Just really happy that all her hard work is actually paying off for her and you're seeing that on the court. "At times I think we can even look into her earlier. "She's got such a powerful hold and we'll see at times that we'll give her balls that aren't quite in the right space and ... she's putting her body on the line to pull those in." Co-captain Kate Heffernan also made her first start, after being sidelined for the opening rounds with a knee injury. The Silver Fern midcourter played only the first half as she builds back through managed minutes but provided a calm figure to lift her team. "It's been tough for her, she's been such a professional in rehab to get back on to the court," Frew said. "There would be other players throughout New Zealand who had that injury that wouldn't have been able to get back on the court like she did." Confidence will be crucial for the Steel this week, as they make the trip to Wellington to meet the Central Pulse on Monday. The sides' previous tussle was a game the Steel would rather forget; they lost 70-45 back in round four. "We know we didn't perform nearly our best. "For us, we've had a good look at it. "You obviously debrief games, and we've moved on and now we're looking to see how we can change our game plan up slightly and make sure we come out a different team than we were when we played them in Invercargill." It is a must-win game for both teams in the scheme of the ANZ Premiership this year, which has been cut back to 10 games. The Pulse are third on the ladder with a record of three wins and three losses for nine points. They lost 61-50 to top-of-the-table Mainland Tactix last week and 64-51 to the Northern Mystics the week before. Wing attack Whitney Souness leads the competition with 153 centre pass receives and shooter Amelia Walmsley has been accurate from the one-point range. The Steel are fifth on the ladder with a record of two wins, and four losses, for seven points. Kimiora Poi sits third for feeds with 196 and defender Carys Stythe leads the league for deflections (32) and defensive rebounds (15) and is second for intercepts (13). ANZ Premiership Monday, Wellington, 7.30pm Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Kate Heffernan, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa. Central Pulse: Amelia Walmsley, Amorangi Malesala, Tiana Metuarau, Gabi Simpson, Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Fa'amu Ioane, Parris Mason, Laura Balmer, Kelly Jackson.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Two-pointers being used to play catch-up
Southern Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn goes for a two-pointer as Central Pulse goal defence Parris Mason puts the pressure on her shot. Pulse defender Kelly Jackson boxes out Georgia Heffernan under the hoop. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY More shots ... What do we think of the two-point shot? Every team is attacking it differently and it has been fascinating to see the tactics. But it is fair to say in New Zealand it has been used to play catch-up. That was especially evident when the Northern Mystics played the Southern Steel in Dunedin and Filda Vui entered late in the second quarter to nail three two-pointers to turn the score around. Again, on Monday night, Waikato-Bay of Plenty shooter Saviour Tui nailed three in the final four minutes to give her side a sniff of a victory against the Mystics. Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has been the most accurate, slotting 11 of 16 two-pointers. ... more changes While many might have predicted the addition of the two-point shot leading to closer scorelines, it has had the opposite effect. Only four of the 18 games have been won by five points or fewer. At least four games have been decided by more than 20 points — the Steel beat the Magic by 28 points in round two — and that is something no fan really wants to see. They want high-intensity, closely fought games that could go either way. There have been some blow-outs and that cannot come just down to the two-point shot. A worrying theme is the top three all beating each other by bigger margins as well. Follow the path Calling players out of retirement seems to be the theme of this year's ANZ Premiership — and netball as a whole. Former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson is back with the Northern Stars as injury cover, having won the title as a replacement for the Mystics last year. Australian Gabby Simpson, who never officially retired after being dropped by the Queensland Firebirds last year, is with the Central Pulse. Steel assistant coach Liana Leota, 40, and Stars assistant coach Leana de Bruin, 47, have also been named in a game this season. While de Bruin did not take the court, and they have since added a rising replacement, is there not cause for concern about the lack of opportunities for the next generation? Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said she was worried about the depth. Taurua highlighted giving the next generation a shot was where she found Laura Langman and Casey Kopua — who turns 40 tomorrow and has joined the Giants in Australia — as teenagers at the Magic. Taking their chances When the young guns have been given a shot, they have what it takes. The Mystics took a shot on 20-year-old shooter Sophia Lafaiali'i with Donnell Wallam nursing a wrist injury — and it paid off. Across her three games, Lafaiali'i has been a strong presence slotting 76 goals from her 80 attempts. Steel replacement Khanye'-Lii Munro-Nonoa, 21, has also been a calm presence when she has been injected. Young defenders in Carys Stythe (Steel) and Catherine Hall (Mystics) are also making a name for themselves with more court time. Turnovers Monday's clash between the Mystics and the Magic was dominated by defence, leading to a low-scoring 40-38 affair. But if you dig a little deeper, the Magic had a whopping 35 turnovers and the Mystics had 28. That is high for any game and no team can expect a dominant win with that many errors.
RNZ News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Southern Steel see off struggling Northern Stars in ANZ Premiership
Monica Falkner of the Stars and Carys Stythe of the Steel during their ANZ Premiership netball match. Photo: photosport Southern Steel have inflicted another painful blow on Northern Stars in netball's ANZ Premiership, winning all four quarters to ease to a 62-46 victory in Auckland. The visitors calmly took command of a clash between the two teams ranked last on the standings, lifting the Steel to a 2-4 win-loss record and still with a slim chance of qualifying for the knockout phase. With four games remaining, the injury-hit Stars' post-season prospects have all-but disappeared, with a 1-5 record. The Steel opened up a 15-11 lead after the first quarter, but took full control early in the second, when they went on a nine-goal unanswered run. That outburst prompted a response from the Stars, who trailed 29-23 at halftime, but the match truly slipped from their grasp late in the third quarter, as the Steel again scored freely to be 12 goals up entering the final stanza. Among the Steel's best was goal keep Carys Stythe, who disrupted the Stars attacking circle throughout the contest, pulling off five intercepts and six deflections. At the opposite end, Steel goal shoot Aliyah Dunn landed 46 of 48 shots, linking particularly well with centre Kimiora Poi. Kate Heffernan continues to log court-time in her injury comeback. Photo: photosport There was another encouraging outing for Steel co-captain Kate Heffernan, who played 31 minutes, after just 18 minutes of court-time in last week's loss to the Tactix, as she recovers from a knee injury suffered before the season. "The knee feels great," she said. "It's good to be out there, obviously, and I'm hoping to keep building up the minutes. "I'm trying to tick all the boxes, but I'm feeling really good. It's so good to have a win. "We've had a couple of tough games, so to go out and do what we say we want to do with a performance we're proud of is awesome." Centre Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was the only Stars player on court for 60 minutes and was arguably their best, winning some key turnovers and treasuring possession better than several of her teammates. Stars goal shoot Charlie Bell landed 31 of 35 shots. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Steel grab second win of the season
The Southern Steel's Aliyah Dunn slotted 47 points against the Northern Stars in Auckland this afternoon. File photo: Gregor Richardson The Southern Steel have recorded their second win of the ANZ Premiership season. They thumped the Northern Stars 62-46 in Auckland this afternoon. The Steel led 15-11 at the first quarter and maintained their lead at every break to secure the victory. Goal shoot Aliyah Dunn was sublime, slotting 47 points – including a two-pointer. Defender Carys Stythe was massive at the other end picking up five intercepts and six deflections. Full story in Monday's Otago Daily Times.
Otago Daily Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Sublime Steel take second win of the season
The Southern Steel's Aliyah Dunn slotted 47 points against the Northern Stars in Auckland this afternoon. File photo: Gregor Richardson The Southern Steel have recorded their second win of the ANZ Premiership season. They thumped the Northern Stars 62-46 in Auckland this afternoon. The Steel led 15-11 at the first quarter and maintained their lead at every break to secure the victory. Goal shoot Aliyah Dunn was sublime, slotting 47 points – including a two-pointer. Defender Carys Stythe was massive at the other end picking up five intercepts and six deflections. Full story in Monday's Otago Daily Times.
