Brace yourself for a battle royale

As the region reflects on 100 years of Otago Netball, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel will be striving to add victory to the centenary celebrations.

Tomorrow’s clash against the Pulse is an absolute battle for survival for both teams. We’re level-pegging on the New Zealand conference points table and both slugged our draws against our Australian rivals in the last round. Just a superior goal percentage gives us the edge so a win will cement third place outright and one step closer to the playoffs.

Dunedin-based Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown has no qualms about facing off against the team she played for in 2012-14.

“It’s quite a cool opportunity for me with my family being here (Dunedin) and I get to play at home,’’ Brown said.

“It’s not a new thing, I’ve played in the opposition before at home. It’s just about me focusing on our team and not where we’re playing, we have a job to do and it’s a must-win game for us.”

She believes there’s a more settled look about the Pulse with the attack line featuring Ameliaranne Wells starting to gain some real traction and consistency.

“We have had two really solid games together now and along with the midcourt the links are coming together for almost a whole game,’’ Brown said. “We’re just missing in patches now, so if we can shorten those patches and minimise them, then we’re going to be able to produce a solid full 60 minutes.

Heading south, the Pulse has a number of hurdles to negotiate this weekend. Our last minute heroics which snatched a draw against the Adelaide Thunderbirds certainly adds to our confidence.  

“It’s all about the ball that we get given in the must-score situations,” Brown added. “We get given half the centre passes, so they’re a must-score and then any turnovers that we manage to generate we need to convert because the Steel don’t offer many of those.”

Get your tickets from the Edgar Centre or online at www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Steel yourself for Round 10

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v Mojo Pulse
Saturday 2 May, 4.10pm - More FM Arena,, Dunedin
Broadcast Live - FOX SPORTS 5 (AUS); SKY SPORT 3 (NZ)

Umpires: Jono Bredin & Fay Meiklejohn. Reserve: Liz Boon

The Facts:

LAST MEETING: Round 7, 2014: Pulse 62 defeated Steel 54, Invercargill

• The Steel has an 8-6 record over the Pulse in 14 previous meetings between the sides.
• The Steel won the first eight meetings between the sides and the Pulse has won the past six meetings.
• The Steel sits in third place on the New Zealand conference ladder with two wins, one draw and five losses.
• The Pulse sits in fourth place on the New Zealand ladder with two wins, one draw and five losses.
• Both the Steel and Pulse drew in Round 9: Steel 53-all against Thunderbirds in Dunedin; Pulse 47-all against the Swifts in Wellington.
• The Pulse and Steel played out an extra time result in their very first meeting in Round 2, 2008.
• The Pulse and Steel meet for the first time in 2015 in Round 10 and they meet again in Round 12 in Palmerston North.
• The Pulse have the third best defensive record with 48.63 goals per match being scored against them.
• The Steel has the fourth best shooting accuracy in the ANZ Championship with 83.5 per cent.

Dress up time!

Limited edition Steel scarves have arrived from the UK! There’s only 150 so don’t miss out! Just $25 each.

Kit yourself out in the latest Steel supporters gear! We have a great range of merchandise available at our home games or from the Netball South offices at ILT Stadium Southland.

We think the players look incredibly sharp in their Scody uniforms and now you can wear it too!

Replica clothing is only available online at http://www.scody.com.au/event-merchandise/event_362/southern-steel/official-merchandise/

Simon Jones is our
Man of Steel

To draw or not to draw – that is the question

How many draws have we seen in the 2015 ANZ Championship? That’s a serious question as I am unsure, but I feel now there is no extra time during the round robin phase this season we are having an exceptionally high number of them.

Click Here to read more

Vote for your E Hayes STEEL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

It's time to stand behind your favourite team and get behind your favourite players.
Right throughout the 2015 season you can vote online for your choice for the Steel Player of the Year and go into the end-of-season draw to win a $500 GIFT CARD from E Hayes and Sons, Proud Supporters of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel.

The winner of the Player of the Year Trophy, as well as the winner of our Prize Draw, will be announced at a special end-of-season function in our store, details to be announced soon.  Vote carefully though as you can only vote ONCE!

Allied Concrete, The Southland Times, Creation Signs, McCallums Drycleaning, Rothbury Insurance Brokers, World Heath and Fitness, Select Recruitment, Southern Sports Podiatry, Aart on St Andrew, Dianne Manson – Nationwide Images New Zealand, Strawberry Sound, Kinetic Health, Don Street Physiotherapy, Roslyn Physiotherapy, Coats and Schuck Jewellers, Ricoh South, ILT Stadium Southland, Splash Palace, Moana Pool

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Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel - PO Box 6034, Invercargill North, Invercargill 9841 NEW ZEALAND Telephone + 64 3 217 1303