SOUTHERN Steel wowed the Northern Mystics in a thrilling clash to notch up their fourth win of the season and put some fear into the second placed side with a 63-58 finish. The Steel flew out of the blocks in the first term and while things tightened up as the game went on the Mystics were unable to answer the call.

Danger signs were clear from the opening whistle as Grace Nweke and Bailey Mes combined in the goal circle for the Mystics with great ease. the duo piled on the first three goals of the game sending a clear warning shot to the Steel who were taking their time to warm into the contest. But once they did it was game over, as both George Fisher and Tiana Metuarau proved anything you can do, I can do better as the pair upped the ante in the goal circle to add on five goals straight and overtake their opposition. Not only was their attack end suddenly humming but so too their defence as the likes of Te Huinga Selby-Rickit and Taneisha Fifita kicked it up a gear to reduce the easy access and speed heading into the Mystics goal circle.

It was a different looking midcourt for the Steel as Kate Heffernan found herself in wing defence while Renee Savai’inaea got the nod out in centre. The move was a tactical one to say the least as the long arms of Heffernan got in the head of Peta Toeava forcing wayward passes and allowing the defence to run riot. The Steel crept out to a four goal lead despite Sulu Fitzpatrick getting consistent tips and deflections in the goal circle against Fisher, as the Mystics simply could not convert with the ball getting lost in transition. Toeava was putting Nweke under all sorts of pressure with her high looping passes missing the mark, and confusion spread across the court when Toeava was directed by the umpire to leave the court for the centre pass. But once she reentered the contest the crafty wing attack had a point to prove hitting the circle edge with pace and precision to spur her side on. the main difference between the two sides was their speed in transition as the Steel zipped down the court with relative ease while the Mystics looked more laboured in attack.

Claire O’Brien started to find her groove in her debut ANZ Premiership game, with the centre using her strong drives and clean hands to find circle edge. Replacing Tayla Earle who copped a knock to the head at training, O’Brien stepped up to the plate and did not seem to skip a beat but her centre counterpart, Savai’inaea was having just as much impact. A missed shot from Nweke allowed the Mystics to capitalise with Metuarau impressing with her class and speed down the court, with the goal attack combining seamlessly around circle edge with Shannon Saunders to weave their magic.

The lead got out to 10 goals as Nweke’s uncharacteristically raggedy hands started to cause issues in attack for the Mystics. A clever play from Selby-Rickit and strong back up play from Fifita saw the Steel fire down court and add to their total with the ball consistently working in their favour. The Mystics managed to work their way back into the game cutting the margin back to eight goals but the attacking end was completely disconnected with neither Mes in her 100^th game or Nweke able to seal the deal with great ease. Inaccuracy was creeping into the game for both sides as the ball went back and forth as the defensive units for both sides got hands to ball. As the clock ticked down the Mystics showcased their class and experience to reduce the margin to five goals. Kate Burley came alive, with the goal defence having a field day getting in the head of the young Steel side.

An early turnover from the Mystics allowed the Steel to speed down court and punish, extending the lead to seven goals although the powerhouse combination of Toeava and Nweke was at it again, while O’Brien also got in the action to keep the Mystics alive while Fa’amu Ioane was helped from the court with the wing defence rolling her ankle prompting the injection of Dani Gray. Each time the Mystics had a chance to string a couple of goals together they threw the ball away with costly penalties handing ball back to the visitors. The smooth and silky transitions down court from the Steel gave them the upper hand as they treasured possession and looked to work their way into the circle rather than force it in. Selby-Rickit was forced off the court with a niggle allowing Sarahpheinna Woulf to enter the fray and the goal defence did not skip a beat.

Holding all the momentum throughout the third quarter despite a couple of pushes from the Mystics the Steel looked hungry for a win entering the final term of play. The pendulum swung in favour of the Mystics as they piled on the pressure and rallied a couple of goals together to send panic into the Steel side. Fisher was a pillar of consistency and was unfazed by the switch of Burley onto her as they continued to push on. Filda Vui made her way onto the court for the Mystics but it did not sway the game as the goal attack was rendered goalless in her 15 minutes on court. In the end it was the Steel that run out victorious.

Nweke was the most prolific goaler out on court but was down on her usual accuracy finishing with 52 goals from 61 attempts at 85 per cent. Mes was well and truly shut down once more with six goals and six goal assists as Toeava steered the ship in attack credit to her 24 goal assists. In her debut performance, O’Brien was a force to be reckoned with collecting 15 goal assists while down in defence Burley and Fitzpatrick were damaging with10 gains and the latter also amassing eight deflections. Fisher was unstoppable finishing with 47 goals at 90 per cent as Metuarau was a key cog in the circle putting up 16 goals and piling on 13 assists. Saunders controlled proceedings with her 24 goal assists as Fifita was a menace in defence racking up five gains and four intercepts.