Steel beat Fever in netball

Mar 22, 2014 - 5:30 AM Stand-out performances from either end of the court gave Southern Steel their first win of this season's trans-Tasman netball league; a 66-65 victory over West Coast Fever in Dunedin on Saturday.

In the shooting circle, Jamaican international Jhanielle Fowler-Reid was outstanding in her positional play and shooting accuracy.

She provided a superb target under the post, hauling in any ball launched in her general direction and missing only one of her 43 shots.

Hard-working goal attack Jodi Brown stepped up to sink 24 from 29 in taking over some of the shooting workload as Fowler-Reid came under close attention from Josie Janz and English international Eboni Beckford-Chambers.

But it was goal keeper Erena Mikaere who proved a revelation at the other end of the court in her first start for the Steel after shifting south from the Magic.

At 1.93m, Mikaere matched Fever goal shoot Caitlin Bassett in height, and did an excellent job in confusing the space in the circle.

She grabbed a steady supply of tips and intercepts and consistently disrupted the Fever's usually reliable feed into the rangy, mobile Bassett, although the Australian international still managed to sink 50 of her 53 shots on goal.

The Steel's measured approach early on worked well in fracturing the Fever's attack, the home team leading 19-16 at the end of the first quarter.

They looked increasingly comfortable in controlling the midcourt, and edged out to a nine-goal lead as the second quarter drew to a close.

But canny coach Norma Plummer made a couple of key changes, the most effective coming shifting wing defence Ash Brazill from wing defence to centre to replace former Magic midcourter Khao Watts.

Brazill provided extra punch in driving to the circle edge, and although the Steel led 37-29 at halftime, the Fever were starting to look dangerous.

A barnstorming third quarter, won 20-15 by the Australians, cut back the Steel lead to 52-49 with 15 minutes remaining.

The Fever continued their fightback right to the final whistle, scrambling back from a five-goal deficit to level the scores at 63-63 with less than three minutes remaining.

But the Steel maintained their composure to control possession under pressure and shut out the win.

Source: AAP