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Steel immune to Fever
We rolled up our sleeves and braved the flu jab pre-season so hopefully that will protect us from being struck down by a nasty Fever this weekend.
Round four of the ANZ Championship is here and the Steel face our second Aussie rival with the West Coast Fever making the arduous journey from Perth to Dunedin.
Needless to say, the tackle bags have been out at training this week to ensure our players are ready to combat the man-on-man physicality our friends from across the ditch are renowned for.
With players on both sides of the Tasman now fitter, stronger and faster, netball was always going to evolve into a more intense and physical sport. At this elite level, the court may resemble a battleground at times but our athletes train extremely hard in their quest to emerge unscathed and victorious.
We ARE Made of Steel and that’s pretty darn tough to penetrate. There’s no doubt tomorrow’s game will be your stereotypical trans-Tasman encounter brimming with action-packed excitement from the opening whistle! Don’t miss it – it’s time to Stand Behind the Steel.
Steel a Secret from ... STORM PURVIS
Which team do you look forward to playing the most and why? Either the Magic or the Tactix. Playing the Tactix always feels like a bit of a grudge match – battle of the South Islanders! And I had my debut against the Magic so for sentimental reasons I suppose I always like playing them.
Do you have any secret party tricks? I can do weird things with my tongue/face… that sounds odd but a few of the girls will know what I mean when I say ‘cat face’.
Who has had the most influence on your career? Lots of people but probably mostly my parents. They have been my biggest supporters since day one.
Growing up who was your all-time favourite player? Bernice Mene!
FIND OUT MORE OF STORM'S SECRETS .... Click Here
 Steel Yourself for ROUND 4
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v West Coast Fever
Saturday 22 March, 4.20pm
More FM Arena, Dunedin
Broadcast Live - FOX SPORTS 3 (AUS); SKY SPORT 1 (NZ)
Umpires: Jono Bredin & Ann Hay Reserve: Liz Boon
The Facts:
LAST MEETING: Round 13, 2013: Fever 68 def Steel 56, Challenge Stadium, Perth.
• The Fever lead head-to-head with four wins and two losses.
• The Fever has won the past three meetings between the sides.
• When the sides last met in Round 13 last year it was the highest combined goals scored (124 goals) in matches between the teams.
• The Fever recorded their first win of the 2014 ANZ Championship season against the Tactix in Round 3.
• Both of the Steel’s wins against the Fever have been in New Zealand.
• The closest margin in matches between the sides is three goals in Round 6, 2011 in Perth when the Fever won 50-47.
• The Fever posted the biggest win in Round 3 with their 36-goal win over the Tactix. This is also the Fever’s biggest ever ANZ Championship winning margin.
• The Fever has played 15 ANZ Championship matches in New Zealand recording five wins and ten losses. This is the worst record of any of the Australian sides on Kiwi soil.
• When the Steel and Fever last met in New Zealand (which was also at the same venue) the Fever recorded a 56-53 win over the Steel.
• The Steel and Fever have played in New Zealand on three previous occasions with the Steel leading with two wins and a loss.
• The Fever has the best attacking record in the ANZ Championship after three rounds with an average of 62 goals per match. The Fever’s defensive record sees them placed 8th with an average of 54 goals per match being scored against them.
• The Steel has the 3rd best shooting accuracy after three rounds with 87.2% accuracy while the Fever are placed 4th with 86.9.
• The Fever has been in seventh position on the ladder after the first three rounds while the Steel has been in eighth position after all three rounds.
• Fever shooter Natalie Medhurst is 28 goals away from scoring her 1,900th ANZ Championship goal.
• Fever shooter Kate Beveridge is two goals away from scoring her 1,400th ANZ Championship goal.
• Jodi Brown is 12 goals away from scoring her 1,300th ANZ Championship goal. Brown will also play her 65th ANZ Championship match in Round 4.
• Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is 33 goals away from scoring her 800th ANZ Championship goal.
• Fever wing attack Chelsea Pitman will play her 50th ANZ Championship match in Round 4. Pitman has played for three sides; Tactix 2010, Firebirds 2011-2013 and now Fever.
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