Coach’s Call
Months of hard slog will be rewarded when your team, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, finally take to the court tonight.
The 2016 ANZ Championship opens with an absolute humdinger of a match as we take on the highly-fancied SKYCITY Mystics in Auckland at 7pm.
With a new coach in Noeline Taurua at the helm, we’re expecting a revamped Steel team with a few tricks up their sleeve.
“I’m excited. As much as I feel that’s such a common word I’m using all the time, I really, truly am” Taurua said.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to get out on court. One of our team values is about being the ‘pride of the south’ so, irrespective of the outcome, we’re looking at putting a product out there that everyone – players and fans – will be proud of.”
New Zealand’s most successful ANZ Championship coach, Taurua’s arrival in the deep South has added an exciting element to the Steel’s latest campaign and the players have been eager to embrace her wisdom.
“We’ve been looking at the game in different ways – how can we attack the ball, how can we be really supportive of each other. Because it’s a new way of playing, it is still going to take time to embed. Realistically, at times it’s not going to be pretty but we’re working towards the end result.”
With a gruelling pre-season now ticked off, it’s time to deliver.
“We’re ready to go. Some are anxious and they’re probably going to be like that until the first whistle but we’ve been training really hard, improving and progressing every day and every week,” Taurua said.
“There’s been a lot of personal bests recorded – our numbers at the moment are going through the roof in regards to the fitness so we’re in the best shape we possibly can be going into this first game. We just want to give it a crack and get out there and play.”
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v SKYCITY Mystics
Friday 1 April, 7pm at The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Broadcast: Live on SKY SPORT 4 (NZ)
Umpires: Jonathan Bredin and Danielle Maulder
Reserve: Tania Fink
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 13, 2015: Mystics 63 def Steel 61 (Invercargill)
• The Mystics won both meetings in 2015 and have won three of the past four matches between the sides.
• The sides have previously met eight times in Auckland with the ledger level at four wins apiece. Seven of the eight meetings between the sides have been played at The Trusts Arena (the other at the North Shore Events Centre) and the Steel have won four and the Mystics three at The Trusts Arena.
• Noeline Taurua joins the Steel in 2016, after being an assistant coach with the Mystics (2015) and leading the Magic for the first six seasons (2008-2013) of the ANZ Championship. Taurua remains the only coach to lead a New Zealand team to the title (Magic in 2012).
• The Mystics have four players yet make their ANZ Championship debuts; Megan Craig, Holly Fowler, Fa’amu Ioane & Michaela Sokolich-Beatson.
• The Steel have two players yet to make their ANZ Championship debuts; Abby Erwood and Jamie Hume.
DON'T MISS IT!
We’re looking for a Senior A netball team for each of our ANZ Championship home games in 2016 to act as official Steel hosts.
The role is an important addition to our game day experience as you will greet our fans when they arrive at the game and bid them a fond farewell at the end.
Your team will get to watch the action unfold on court, receive $50 towards dressing up in Steel colours (you have to look the part!) and, best of all, you’ll also earn a $350 donation towards fundraising to attend the South Island Secondary School Tournament.
If you think your team has got what it takes - WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
To nominate your team, simply email kate.buchanan@netballsouth.co.nz with your name, school and why you think you’d make awesome Steel Hosts!
The 2016 E Hayes Ball Deliverer Competition
E Hayes and Sons is a valued Partner of the Steel and together we are looking for keen keen young netball fans to become Official Ball Deliverers for the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel's home games in Invercargill and Dunedin this season.
As a lucky winner, you'll get to deliver the match ball right on to centre court at the start of the game plus receive two tickets for you and a guardian to watch the game and soak up the great home-crowd atmosphere. And if that isn't exciting enough, you'll also get to take home a prize pack of goodies courtesy of E Hayes and Sons and the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel!
FIND OUT MORE AND ENTER HERE
 • Allied Concrete • The Southland Times • Creation Signs • McCallums Drycleaning • Rothbury Insurance Brokers • World Health and Fitness • Dianne Manson - Nationwide Images New Zealand • ILT Stadium Southland • Strawberry Sound • Kinetic Health • Roslyn Physiotherapy • Splash Palace - Invercargill • Unichem • Waikiwi Pharmacy • NZHealth.delivery • Impress Clothing & Accessories • Fusion Fitness South • Heineken • Pernod Ricard • IHG Hotels • APN Outdoor • 2XU • Omni Graphics
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Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel - PO Box 6034, Invercargill North, Invercargill 9841 NEW ZEALAND Telephone + 64 3 219 9350
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