IT was always going to be a tough task without Ellie Bird and although the Mainland Tactix put up a good fight the Southern Steel showcased their grit and determination to steal a two goal win in a low-scoring affair (47-45). The Steel have gotten good at coming from behind to snatch victory, replicating their heroics from last week once again.

Missing a lynchpin in attack did not seem to worry the Tactix early as Kate Grant opened the account for the home side with a crafty goal. It did not take long for George Fisher to answer the call up the other end of the court for the Steel. Grant was making her presence felt nice and early with the goal shooter using her smarts to position cleverly inside the circle as the Tactix pushed out to a handy two goal buffer. But Fisher proved anything you can do, I can do better nailing consecutive goals to make it level pegging. Every time the Steel had a surge the Tactix found a way to skip one step ahead as Grant was having the better of Taneisha Fifita early to do the heavy lifting under the post. The tussle between sisters Te Paea and Te Huinga Selby-Rickit was as exciting as ever to watch as they competed hard for every single pass and every inch of space out on court.

A mid-quarter rally from the Tactix pushed them further ahead as they established a five-goal lead doubling their opponents’ score 10-5. But just as soon as the game looked like it was getting away from them the Steel found a way to weasel their way back into the contest. The combination of goal attack Tiana Metuarau and centre Kate Heffernan came to life and worked wonders in attack with the duo spearing passes into Fisher with great ease. A newfound energy in attack forced the likes of Jane Watson and Karin Burger onto the back foot with Watson really struggling to combat the front hold of Fisher as the lead dwindled down to a mere goal at quarter time.

Holding the slimmest of leads at quarter time the Tactix looked to extend their margin but an errant shot off the hand of Grant gifted the Steel a chance to capitalise. It took a while for both sides to settle in the second with Te Paea Selby-Rickit landing the first goal with a tick under two minutes played in the term. Metuarau put up her first goal of the game moments later but the Tactix hung onto this one goal buffer. The tables slowly started to turn as Te Huinga Selby-Rickit sprung to life getting hands to ball and chasing down any loose ball that came her way to send the ball rocketing down the other end of the court. A four goal run to the Steel gifted them the lead with just over six minutes to play.

After being well held in the opening term Shannon Saunders upped the ante with her craft around circle edge and turn of speed to keep Charlotte Elley guessing. Changes came hard and fast for both the Tactix and Steel as Grant went to the bench and 17-year-old Amelia Walmsley made her way on in goal shooter. For the Steel, Fifita went to the bench allowing Sarahpheinna Woulf to be injected into the game. Walmlsey found her groove straight away against Woulf while she combined well with Te Paea Selby-Rickit to steadily eat into the margin. Up the other end, accuracy was proving no issue for the Steel as Fisher and Metuarau did not miss a single shot pushing their side out to a three goal lead.

The Tactix came out of half time with a real spring in their step as Te Paea Selby-Rickit slotted two goals in under a minute to draw back within a goal. Fifita was back on the court to start the term bodying up on Walmsley but that did not seem to bother the youngster who simply dug in and got the job done. Both Samon Nathan and Kimiora Poi increased their workload throughout the third term to spur the attacking unit on but this goal for goal rhythm remained. Neither side was able to break the shackles of each other as the defensive pressure intensified and scoreboard continued to tick over.

Fisher was doing all the heavy lifting inside the circle for the Steel with the England international using her footwork to avoid the long limbs of Watson. But the efforts of Burger is what stood out as the goal defence got hands to ball time and time again. Any way she could disrupt a passage of play she was there making life hard for the Steel and nullifying the influence of her former teammate in Metuarau. The Tactix managed to muster another layer of energy and drive sinking three goals straight to level the playing field but a late rally from the visitors saw all the hard work come unstuck.

It all came down to the last quarter and with only two goals separating them teenage shooter, Walmsley had a point to prove. Scoring the first goal of the term she made her intentions clear with the Tactix relishing a purple patch putting up seven goals straight. The momentum was and truly favouring the home side as they turned the deficit into a five goal margin. but that is where it stopped, as the Tactix did not put up a single shot from the eight and a half minute mark while the Steel went on a rampage. Fisher singlehandedly won the game nailing seven goals straight to rip the win away from the Tactix.

Fisher walked away with 40 goals at 91 per cent as Metuarau sat at 100 per cent with seven goals straight. Saunders was strong on the feed with 14 goal assists as Fifita amassed three gains and six deflections as Te Huinga Selby-Rickit picked up four gains and an intercept. Te Paea Selby-Rickit was the most prolific shooter for the Tactix with 18 from 20 while Walmsley impressed with her 16 from 19. Poi collected 15 goal assists as Burger had a day out in defence registering four intercepts and eight gains.