The Southern Steel have claimed the minor premiership in the trans-Tasman netball league after beating the Melbourne Vixens 65-56 in Invercargill.
Southern Steel's Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, left, takes a shot at goal while Vixens Bianca Chatfield and Geva Mentor wait for a rebound. Photo: Photosport
The home side, who are undefeated this season, outscored the Vixens in each quarter and lead 33-29 at half time.
The Steel's Jamaican goal shoot, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, top scored with 49 goals from 54 attempts giving her team home court advantage for the playoffs.
"I thought the Vixens played a pretty good game so we're pretty happy with that nine point win," the Steel captain Wendy Frew told Sky Sport after the match.
Frew acknowledged her side had been practicing their service to Fowler-Reid, but was also pleased with their play throughout the court.
"Very promising leading into the last few weeks of this comp.," she said.
With 11 wins and one draw this season, the Steel's haul of 23 competition points can't be surpassed by any of the other nine teams in the league, even though there's one more round of the regular season to be played.
For the Noeline Taurua coached side to win the minor-premiership is something of an irony, given Australia has chosen to run its own competition without the New Zealand teams from next year, due to their lack of competitiveness.
