The Southern Steel produced another last gasp goal effort to claim a 55-all draw with the Central Pulse in their trans-Tasman netball championship clash in Palmerston North last night.
With the Steel just ahead of their opponents on goal differential for third spot in the New Zealand Conference coming into the match, the outcome was crucial to both.
Leading by two heading into the final term, the Pulse looked to have the game under control when a run of timely errors by their opponents opened the door to a seven-goal lead for the home team.
Introduced in the last 10 minutes, goal attack Brooke Leaver added impetus to the Steel cause as the southerners made a late pitch to get amongst the points.
Critical lapses cost the Pulse as the Steel inched their way back to post the seventh draw of the competition this season and maintain third spot in the tightly-packed New Zealand Conference.
Meanwhile a well-drilled NSW Swifts consolidated their recent resurgent form with a dominating 68-49 win over the Mainland Tactix in Sydney.
With their sixth win of the year, the Swifts cemented third place in the Australian Conference while keeping the Tactix winless for the season.
Building on a sizzling start, the Swifts dominated across all facets and with a view to the road ahead were able to give a number of players court time.
The Tactix never recovered from a slow start, left chasing the game and unable to make an impression against a slick and in-form home team in a match where nothing went right for them.
The Tactix remain rooted to the bottom of the New Zealand conference.
