The Steel have helped restore some pride for New Zealand netball with a dramatic win against the Fever at Dunedin's Edgar Centre yesterday.
They are the first New Zealanders to record a win against an Australian side this season but it took a missed shot to help seal the win. With the scores level 65-65, Steel captain Jodi Brown missed a long attempt with about 30s remaining. Wing attack Shannon Francois swooped up the rebound and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid scored the winning shot with 8s remaining. Without Brown's miss, the game may have gone into extra time as the Fever would have had time for an equalising attempt.
The Steel, who wore black armbands in recognition of former Otago and New Zealand A coach Sheryll Roy who died last month, enjoyed an eight goal lead at halftime but weathered a superb fightback from the visitors to secure their first win this season.
Goal keep Erena Mikaere got a start ahead of Phoenix Karaka in the Steel's defensive circle and it proved an inspired move. The lanky 1.93m athlete stuck closely to dangerous shooter Caitlin Bassett and used her vertical leap to deflect a couple of rebounds. Her leap was actually more of a well-directed spike. She also swooped on loose ball and generally made a nuisance of herself, exactly what coach Janine Southby would have hoped for.
At the other end, the Steel's shooting combination of Brown and Fowler-Reid was flawless, landing all 19 attempts to give the hosts a three-goal lead at the break.
