Preview: Super Sunday - Invercargill
An all-conquering Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel have thrown down the gauntlet in the first half of the ANZ Premiership – keeping pace with them remains the challenge for the rest.
The Steel are the only unbeaten side as the league nears the mid-way point of the season and have the added bonus of hosting the second Super Sunday at Stadium Southland in Invercargill.
All six teams head south for another blockbuster day of Netball and those congested in the middle of the premiership points table are out to make an impact.
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2pm: Pulse v Magic | 4pm: Steel v Mystics | 6pm: Stars v Tactix
GET TICKETS: 6 teams, 3 matches, 1 ticket
Surprise contenders Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse continue to build and an impressive win against the SKYCITY Mystics have those in the yellow-camp cautiously optimistic.
Their credentials will be put to the test in Round 6 with a Super Sunday clash against the WBOP Magic before backing up against the Steel on Monday.
All aspects of their game have shown growth in the first half of the season but it is most noticeably the defensive unit which has made super strides since last season.
Their new look front line look at ease and have been led well by Cathrine Tuivaiti – another big ask against the long limbs of Kelly Jury and Casey Kopua awaits on Sunday when they meet the Magic in the first game of the day.
Southland fans will eagerly await the second match when the Steel look to add to their points haul with a re-match against the Mystics.
The Steel have shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid at the top of the board for the most goals scored to date while defender Jane Watson is atop the ladder for deflections.But it is what happens between those two impressive bookends which are leading to the success from the Deep South.
Consistency has been key for the side which has netted over 70 goals in every outing.
A strong bench – a must with four games in 10 days – adds to the armour and no-one yet has been able to find any chinks.
The Mystics perhaps came closest in Round 2 when with four minutes left in the game they were within two of the Steel, only to see the scoreline blow out to seven at the final whistle.
They will however have to dig deep to find those touches again after a frustrating performance against the Pulse where the attacking unit failed to fire.
The ever-competitive Anna Harrison will match-up against Fowler-Reid and could be joined in the circle by Michaela Sokolich-Beatson who added a spark when she came on court last week.
But coach Helene Wilson will be wanting more from her experienced shooters – whose accuracy was just 69 per cent – if they are to compete with the Steel.
There will be plenty of interest in the clash between the Northern Stars and the Silvermoon Tactix.
The Tactix find themselves at a crossroads with a change in coaching personnel. Assistant coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek picks up the reins for the second half of the season and faces some monumental challenges as the red-and-blacks search for points.
The Stars will go into the match as favourites after beating the Tactix by 11-goals when they last met.They showed last week they could win enough possession against the classy Steel unit – finding regular cohesion up front is now the task for the Stars if they are to convert that precious ball into Super Sunday points.
HOW TO WATCH:
NZ-based fans can tune into SKY Sport 4 and FanPass to catch all the action live from 2pm. International fans (outside NZ) can watch all the action live on the ANZ Premiership Facebook page.
2pm: Pulse v Magic | 4pm: Steel v Mystics | 6pm: Stars v Tactix