AFTER losing their past two encounters, the Northern Stars mustered up a special performance to honour their retiring heroes Temepara Bailey and Leana de Bruin to claim a nail-biting three-goal victory over the Southern Steel. It was a tight tussle with both teams coming out with a point to prove but in the end it was the composure of the Stars that shone through with their connections down court and clever transition play a key asset of their game.

It was a tale of two halves with the Steel coming out of the blocks firing with Lenize Potgieter putting on a shooting display at 100 per cent accuracy slotting 12 goals straight in the opening term. Her consistency and dominance throughout the game continued, showcasing her ability to find the net with ease and shoot from a range of positions in the goal circle. In defence Kate Heffernan and Abby Erwood did a wealth of work to stop the ball from penetrating the Stars circle edge, claiming four gains and two intercepts between them credit to their quick footwork and ability to read the play. Stars goal shooter, Maia Wilson produced one of her best games of the season showing great movement and composure in the ring to drag her defender out and then drop back in. She went head to head with Potgieter, also converting 12 goals at 100 per cent in the first quarter, while her ability to shake up her style was also important in confusing the defenders with her strong holds and quick footwork a key element throughout the match. Going into the quarter time break the Steel held a narrow one goal lead highlighting the closeness and intensity of the game.

Steel goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit worked her way into the game and made her presence felt on the scoreboard, slotting four goals while her work to feed the ball into the circle was solid picking up three goal assists. Her work with Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton out the front was impressive with Saunders using her speed to get into damaging positions in the attacking third. Heffernan continued her dominant ways in wing defence with her timely tips and clever footwork around the circle edge, picking up three gains and three intercepts. Meanwhile, Steel goal keeper Te Huinga Selby-Rickit upped the defensive pressure to amass two gains and an intercept in the second quarter alone. Wilson was not as prolific under the post in the second quarter but her partnership with youngster Charlee Hodges was impressive with the two creating good space and utilising their impeccable timing to get closer opportunities at goal. Hodges put up six from nine, while Stars wing attack, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan really came alive with her timely feeds into the goal circle with 11 feeds and five goal assists.

Down by three at half time the Northern Stars rallied, credit to the impressive defensive work of goal keeper Storm Purvis. Purvis pushed Potgieter up high and used her clever footwork to get around the body and impact as many contests as possible. Her ability to read the play was second to none getting into clever positions to record four gains, two intercepts and two deflections to limit the influence of her opposition shooters. Kayla Cullen also showcased her ability to impact the game with her tenacity and hunt for the ball to get two intercepts and two gains for her efforts in the quarter. A change-up in the midcourt created more space with Bailey able to do her best work in the goal third while Holly Fowler was influential through the midcourt racking up five goal assists, one gain and one intercept for the quarter. Wilson’s accuracy and volume increased credit to the work of Bailey, Hodges and Fowler out the front with the goal attacking nailing 14 goals straight. For the Steel, Crampton worked tirelessly in attack to notch up 10 feeds, two intercepts and two gains while the introduction of Jennifer O’Connell in the goal circle provided a different element for the Stars to think about. O’Connell had an immediate impact in her short stint on the court slotting three from five but it was not enough with the Stars running away with a two goal lead.

With a Grand Final appearance on the line both teams came out with great intent in the final quarter. But in the end, it was the Northern Stars that did enough to hold that two goal buffer and eventually push it out to a three goal lead with Potgieter missing a long bomb in the dying seconds of the match. The Steel made a few big changes in the last quarter bringing on Courtney Elliot in goal keeper and Kendall McMinn in hope to stop the attacking prowess of the Stars, with McMinn making her presence felt on the court with her long reach and clever timing to pick up one intercept and one gain. Captain Leana de Bruin impressed throughout the match using her experience and general netball knowledge to control the defensive end for the Stars, finishing with two gains and five deflections. Wilson finished with 43 from 45 at 96 per cent while Potgieter scored 39 from 42 at 93 per cent showcasing the sheer shooting talent both sides possess.

The Northern Stars are set to face the Central Pulse in the grand final on Monday, June 3.