Netball: Griffin engineers Steel win

Liana Leota of the Steel in action. Photo / NZPA

Shooter Paula Griffin steered the Southern Steel to a comprehensive 49-40 win over Canterbury Tactix in a trans-Tasman netball league match in Dunedin today.

Griffin, who took a year's sabbatical from international honours last year, shot superbly for 85 per cent accuracy, signalling a real bid for inclusion in Silver Ferns' coach Ruth Aitken's world championship team named in 10 days.

The Tactix opened strongly, despite losing centre Phillipa Finch to a potential season-ending knee injury after barely three minutes.

Tactix defenders Charlotte Kight and Anna Galvan worked the circle well, putting pressure Griffin and goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti.

Kight's anticipation and speed proved disruptive as she snared a series of well-timed interceptions, while Galvan's rebounding was impressive against the height of Wipiiti.

Down 10-15 at the end of the first quarter, Steel coach Robyn Broughton tweaked her shooters, mixing up the circle with Wipiiti moving upcourt to goal attack while Griffin offered more solidity at the back as goal shoot.

The move triggered a real turnaround for the Steel, and Griffin took a leading role in shooting 11 from 11 for the spell.

The Steel also tightened up some sloppy midcourt defence to put more pressure on the Tactix pass and force turnovers, converting to edge ahead 25-23 at halftime.

And in the defensive circle, the Steel's towering Silver Ferns goal keep Leana de Bruin continued her recent excellent form, her combination with Te Huinga Selby-Rickit making the feed into Wipiiti and Griffin a real challenge.

The two teams matched each other goal for goal in the third spell before the Steel opened up the throttle in the closing stages.

The Tactix missed midcourt lynchpin Maree Bowden, who was sidelined with a finger injury 12 minutes into the quarter, and the Steel went into the final 15 minutes with a 38-30 lead.

Bowden was back for the final spell, and although the Tactix did well match the Steel, they never looked likely to seriously threaten the lead.

The result was a real turnaround for the Steel, who lost 44-49 when the two teams last met in Christchurch 10 days.

- NZPA