Netball: Mystics crush Steel after shaky start

Mystics Maria Tutaia makes a shot during the LG Mystics clash against the Southern Steel at Trust Stadium. Photo / Richard Robinson

Northern Mystics overcame a rusty start to beat an understrength Southern Steel 51-34 in a round one trans-Tasman netball competition match at Auckland tonight.

The Southern Steel and their coach Robyn Broughton must be wondering at the ill-fortune that has plagued them.

They started the season with key players shooter Daneka Wipiiti, Australian midfield import Natasha Chokljat and defender Sheryl Scanlan sidelined by injury and tonight saw veteran substitute Tania Dalton and skipper Liana Leota not complete the match because of calf injuries.

Both sides were guilty of loose play and stray passes as their combinations in attack, midfield and defence got their timing all wrong in a error-strewn first quarter.

It took the Mystics, boasting five Silver Ferns in their starting lineup until the last 30 seconds of the quarter to reach double figures and lead 10-7.

It was only the steady shooting of Cathrine Latu, six pots from seven attempts that gave the Mystics the edge while goal attack Maria Tutaia sank four from six.

In a first half that saw 18 turnovers from the Mystics and 19 by the Steel, it was the Mystics who slowly got their rhythm together better in the second quarter to lead 24-16 at halftime.

Broughton brought Dalton on for Te Paea Selby-Ricket for the start of the second half but the 39-year-old lasted just 12 minutes before limping off after landing six goals from seven attempts.

With the lively Leota also struggling before departing late in the final quarter, a disrupted Steel were unable to stem the flow of ball into Latu and Tutaia who at times enjoyed clear shots at goal despite the best attempts of Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin.

"We started a bit slow but we started to pick it up once we started to feel confident with each other and let the ball go," Mystics skipper Temepara George said.

- NZPA