The Southern Steel defeated Northern Stars 49-47 in a hard-fought game at the Auckland Netball Centre yesterday (June 28).

After a quick turnaround, Southern Steel held their nerve to post their first win of the season, in a tight and tense contest with the tenacious Northern Stars.

In unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the table, the Steel had to wait until their fourth match before securing their first win with just two points in the game.

The Steel won the first and fourth quarters, with the match hanging in the balance at three-quarter time when the scores were tied.

The injection of hard-nosed wing defence Kendall Corkery for the last quarter had real impact as the Steel played their traditional style of safety first, while exerting big defensive pressure.

Gina Crampton and Shannon Saunders steadied the Steel ship on attack while the accuracy of shooters Jennifer O’Connell (32/36) and Trinidad & Tobago import Kalifa McCollin (14/15) proved the difference in the end.

The Stars had their moments and competed gamely to keep the score close throughout but were undone by a slow start.

There were no surprises in either starting line-up. The Steel’s opening seven remaining unchanged, backing up just 24 hours after their narrow loss to the Northern Mystics.

The southerners got away to a flying start, found their attacking connections early and made a run of six straight goals while holding the Stars to just two in the opening five minutes.

Saunders and Crampton found an easy passage to well-positioned goal shoot O’Connell while athletic fellow shooter McCollin revelled in the space with her play-making skills.

Struggling on their first phase play, the Stars took time to warm into their work before finding their groove later in the piece.

However, they were unable to prevent the Steel taking a high-scoring 15-10 lead at the first break with O’Connell and McCollin returning perfect shooting records.

In-circle Star defenders Storm Purvis and Kate Burley helped their team get away to the perfect start as the Stars slotted the first four goals on the resumption.

With the margin reduced to just one, the teams went toe-to-toe before the Stars produced two threatening surges.

Star shooter Maia Wilson was given more opportunities under the hoop but the Stars shooting pair had their work cut out against Steel defenders Te Huinga Selby-Rickit and Taneisha Fifita.

With the Steel lead cut to 26-23 at half-time, goal attack Georgia Heffernan and goal defence Abby Erwood were introduced for the third quarter, and the tight contest continued for another 12 minutes.

Both teams enjoyed telling little runs, with the Steel unnerved a little when Georgia Heffernan was forced from the court late in the quarter.

The Stars continued to chip away, their defensive pressure creating turnovers while Wilson and Jamie Hume continued to pot goals at the other end.

The score inched to a one goal deficit with a minute to go, then the Stars levelled the score 36-all with seconds remaining on the third quarter.

The Steel have now secured 4 points for their win, while the Stars take a bonus point for being within 5 goals or less. 

Shooting Stats - Stars:

Maia Wilson 37/42 (88.1%)

Jamie Hume 10/15 (66.7%)

Shooting Stats - Steel:

Jennifer O'Connell 32/36 (88.9%)

Kalifa McCollin 14/15 (93.3%)

Georgia Heffernan 3/3 (100%) 

Most Valued Player: Jennifer O'Connell (Steel)