Pulse 44 Steel 66
The Southern Steel are still in the hunt for transtasman league playoff place after a win over the Pulse in Wellington yesterday.
The win will give Steel a confidence boost ahead of a rugged finish to their regular season. Four of their five remaining matches will be against Australian sides, West Coast Fever, Queensland Firebirds, Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts.
Steel coach Robyn Broughton rested Adine Wilson, who had a calf injury, yesterday, but the skipper was never required to make an appearance as Wendy Telfer and Liana Barret-Chase dominated the midcourt.
Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti, who towered over Pulse defenders Bessie Manu and Hannah Broederlow, had an armchair ride in the shooting circle, bagging a 100 per cent success rate from 17 shots in the first half. Her first miss was with her 20th attempt and when she came off for the final quarter, she had made 31 of 34 attempts.
Steel's cause was aided by another strong performance from fellow shooter Donna Wilkins who made 26 from 30.
The Pulse, who remain winless since the league started last year, made a good fist of matching their opponents until midway into the second quarter.
Shooter Paula Griffin had a strong 92 per cent rate in the first quarter which the Pulse won 13-11. Griffin continued to be accurate in the second quarter but Jamilah Gupwell had a poor 44 per cent effort in the first half and the Pulse's challenge melted away.
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble replaced Gupwell in the second half and went on to notch a 100 per cent record from 12 shots but it was too little too late as the Steel notched their biggest winning margin and highest score of the season.
- NZPA
