Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v Northern Mystics
May 26, 2025
It’s fair to say no-one left Dunedin’s Edgar Centre with a steady heart rate tonight.
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and Northern Mystics delivered one heck of a performance, even if the final 54-55 score felt like a cruel blow to the parochial home fans.
There was more than ANZ Premiership points at stake as the Mystics head north with the Georgina Salter Memorial – a trophy which pays tribute to one of the south’s netball greats.
Honouring her legacy, the Steel rose to the occasion and called on all of the attributes Salter installed in her players – bravery, resilience, a fearless attitude and an unrelenting determination.
Never one to sugar coat things, Salter would probably have dubbed the Steel’s performance ‘satisfactory’ – while hiding a wry smile knowing it was a gutsy effort against the unbeaten defending champions.
The game’s first two-point super shot came courtesy of Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan, propelling the home side to a 17-13 buffer after the opening spell.
With Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson at her menacing best disrupting flow, the Steel’s midcourters had to rely on precision and patience to thread the ball. A particularly feisty battle ensued between Renee Savai’inaea and Peta Toeava which delivered plenty of entertaining combat.
With an improved defensive effort managing to hinder the Steel’s attacking flow, it was the Mystics who held a 31-30 edge at halftime.
Momentum continued on their side in the third stanza as the Steel struggled to halt a series of unanswered goals. But disaster struck on the brink of three quarter time when Mystics goal shoot Donnell Wallam fell heavily and was forced from the court clutching her wrist.
With the visitors’ formidable weapon out of action, the southerners capitalised to quickly slot seven goals and swing the game narrowly in their favour. Centre Kimiora Poi was constantly in the thick of the action, earning a deserved MVP accolade.
With a renewed hunger, Carys Stythe snaffled crucial intercepts and the Steel dominated the final phase, alas just not when it counted most.
A two-point shot from goal shoot Filda Vai enabled the Mystics to level the odds with less than two minutes remaining, the subsequent shot snatching the lead.
Steel had its chances to emerge victorious but were ultimately let down by frustrating errors under pressure.
The opportunity for redemption looms against the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse at the Steel’s Invercargill fortress on Sunday.
Official Result and Stats:
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel: 54
Northern Mystics: 55
Shooting Stats – Steel:
Aliyah Dunn 42/44
Georgia Heffernan 9/11
Shooting Stats – Mystics:
Donnell Wallam 32/35
Hannah Glen 6/6
Filda Vai 12/16
Peta Toeava 1/1
