KEY POINTS:
Seven teams are locked on four points after a round of mostly upsets in the transtasman netball competition.
Australian teams occupy the top four places on goal differential while New Zealand's Northern Mystics and Central Pulse remain the only winless sides.
The Pulse suffered a humiliating 28-56 loss to the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane last night after Southern Steel pulled off an inspiring 51-42 victory over Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch.
Pulse captain Frances Solia said it was back to the blackboard for her team rather than sightseeing or shopping over their next five days in Australia before their fourth round match against NSW Swift in Sydney.
Her coach Kate Carpenter was wondering what went wrong after last round's tight 52-50 home loss to the Steel.
"We were hoping to build on that performance but it just wasn't to be," she said. It was Jamaican international Romelda Aiken who inspired the Firebirds to a commanding display, showing she is likely to be one of the dominating figures in the sport.
Aiken looked at home shooting 24 from 25 attempts to give her team a 31-15 lead before making way for Joanne Morgan.
Firebirds' coach Vicki Wilson switched players around and made several changes without upsetting her team's rhythm as the home side led 43-19 in the third quarter before finishing with the same flourish.
Defenders Laura Geitz and Peta Stephens, both taller and more aggressive on the ball than their New Zealand opponents, gave Susan Tagicakibau and schoolgirl Amber Bellringer a difficult night.
Pulse's defenders Sonia Mkoloma and Kahurangi Waititi couldn't match Aiken in the air, and at midcourt Firebirds dynamo Kate Walker was in a class of her own. The Tactix blew a chance to go top after being swamped by Southern Steel.
Players at extreme ends of the Steel court, goal shoot Denaka Wipiiti and goal keep Megan Hutton, were key figures, dominating their respective circles.
The long limbs of Wipiiti were found easily all night against shorter defenders and her shooting radar was locked in.
By contrast, Tactix shooters Jodi Brown and Anna Thompson had a devil of a time escaping the clutches of Hutton.
"We've been guilty of getting up by four or five and letting the opposition back into it," Steel captain Jenny-May Coffin said.
With a two-win, one-loss record, the Melbourne Vixens, Queensland Firebirds, NSW Swifts, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Waikato-BOP Magic, Canterbury Tactix and Southern Steel are on four points each.
- NZPA
