Match Report Steel v Mystics – Round 8
May 31, 2026
It took an extra-time clanger to separate the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and the GoSweetSpot Mystics in round 8 of the ANZ Premiership.
After winning two quarters each with identical scores, the pair were left deadlocked at 52-all at the end of regular time, resulting in two three-minute halves of extra time.
The Mystics outclassed the southerners 9-1 in the deciding minutes, to win 61-53 and claim the Georgina Salter Memorial Trophy contested between the two sides in celebration of the legendary coach who was a strong influence across both teams.
Playing their second straight week of extra time, it was a hard-luck story for the Steel, who in the end came up empty-handed after also missing out on a bonus point.
Adding to the sting, it thrust the Mystics to the top of the league’s points table and relegated the southerners to third as the playoff hunt enters a crucial phase.
With inspirational captain Kimiora Poi ruled out with a calf injury, the southerners were forced to reshuffle their midcourt, introducing talented Queenslander Jessie Laga’aia to centre for her first involvement on this side of the Tasman after playing a couple of games at the elite level for the Firebirds.
With just 48 hours to meet her new team-mates, it was a baptism of fire to adapt to the kiwi style of play for Laga’aia, who stepped up to the challenge and delivered a solid performance featuring some dynamic feeds.
Steel head coach Wendy Frew was impressed with her latest recruit.
“I think Jessie was amazing. To come in and have one training with us and then play a full 60 minutes plus overtime, I’m really proud of her effort,” she said.
“It was massive pressure and it shows the character of her to just come in and fit like a glove into our environment. She’s a good human and, for us, we’ve just been trying not to overload her with too much information.
“I thought the girls connected really well and it was a true team effort. Kimi is a big loss but that’s all part of sport. When you are faced with scenarios like this and not having your captain out there, it is up to our other leaders to step up and I think they did that really well.
“It’s been a character building week and we needed to make sure we’re staying tight as a unit to come through it.
“It was a grind and we knew it was going to be like that. The Mystics are a quality side and they’ve really had some momentum to now have five on the trot. We definitely knew it was going to be tough and unfortunately we just got outplayed in the end.”
Initially, the Mystics forced the Steel to match an unfamiliar tempo as the game launched at a scorching pace with both teams trading frantic blows under the post.
Captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, in tandem with Katie Te Ao and Phoenix Karaka, were prominent early on, giving Steel’s new attack line no time to settle, oppressive and relentless defence eventually cracking the Steel’s resolve.
While there were turnovers both ways, it was the Steel’s untried attack line that faltered and the resulting possession saw the Mystics bolt out to a 16-9 lead at the first break.
Showcasing their variety on attack, the signs were ominous for the Steel when the Mystics scored the first three goals on the resumption.
However, slowly but surely and in true southern fashion, the Steel turned the tide. Employing a short, sharp attacking plan paid dividends for the home side while both ends of the court were anchored by genuine fortune-changers.
Easing the ball through court with simple passages of play, ever-reliable shooter Aliyah Dunn showed her court craft, netball smarts and accuracy to chip away at the deficit. At the other end, non-stop goalkeeper Carys Stythe provided the impetus with her ball-hunting abilities.
In the groove, the Steel slowly worked their way back, levelling up the scores with just seconds remaining of the half. In an extraordinary turnaround, the Steel mirrored the Mystics first quarter scoreline when the teams went to the main break all square at 25-25 with possession and shots at goal exactly the same across both teams.
In an increasingly physical contest, both teams continued at a frantic pace and fortunes ebbed and flowed. The Steel shot out to an early four-goal advantage to start the third stanza before being reeled in by the Mystics.
While Dunn remained an influential figure, the introduction of Charlotte Manley at goal defence for the Mystics helped shut down the scoring flow while the visitors, with Toeava driving the ship, adopted a more measured approach.
Filda Vui and Maia Wilson showed great timing and positioning in the circle as the Mystics levelled up with two minutes to go. Stythe continued to add her imprint but it was a late Vui two-pointer that gave the Mystics a 40-38 lead at the last turn, leaving the game delicately poised.
The Steel’s next assignment is against the Stars in Auckland on Sunday.
“That’s a massive game. The Stars need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive so for us we’ve just got to keep grinding and keep pushing through,” Frew said.
