Netball: Consistency will be key

The first quarter times four, please.

If the Steel could regularly replicate its effort during the opening period of its 77-61 win over the Tactix on Monday, it would not be languishing in seventh place.

That is the challenge: to rediscover that form against the Swifts in Canberra today and to maintain it for 60 minutes.

The Steel posted 26 goals in the first quarter against the Tactix. Few sides in the competition can hope to score so rapidly.

Star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid netted 21 in that period and 60 for the match. She is the Steel's not-so-secret weapon and, at 1.98m tall, has proven to be virtually unstoppable.

The Steel's defence has not matched its attacking prowess and that will be a key today. But if the Steel can produce another similar scoring blitz, it might not matter how many goals the team concedes.

''Look, I was really pleased with the first quarter,'' coach Janine Southby said.

''They were convincing and disciplined, which is what we've been after. But we relaxed a little bit in that second quarter.

''It is all about maintaining that consistency. We know that we are very capable of scoring and we've seen it in many games. For us it is about putting it out there for a full 60.

''They are conscious of that but are still guilty of lapses and that is something we've got to cut out of our game.''

It has been a short turnaround for the Steel. It played the Tactix on Monday, and Southby said the focus had been on recovery more than training this week, although the team played the Canterbury men's team on Wednesday.

The Steel's prospects of making the playoffs are slim, given the side has recorded five losses in eight games.

But there is a logjam in the middle of the competition table and only two points separate the Swifts in third place and the Mystics in ninth.

It has been a tough few weeks for the Swifts. The Sydney-based team is coming off back-to-back defeats, including a disappointing 55-40 loss to the Firebirds.

That has stripped some of the varnish from a promising beginning to the campaign.

''It is better to get a side when they are down and it is a great opportunity for us,'' Southby said.

''We know they will be better and be wanting to come back at us. But we can't let them get their confidence back and it is about hitting them really early on in the game.''

Swifts coach Rob Wright acknowledged his side was under pressure.

''I think there are things that came out of the last two games that really show that we've got to make some adjustments, because teams have analysed us well and worked some things out about how we want to play the game,'' Wright said.

Wright was impressed with the Steel's comprehensive win over the Tactix but was most concerned about the Steel's ability to score quickly.

''They are scoring big numbers and they keep scoring big numbers.

''They were good at both ends and, like all Kiwi sides, they run some different defensive strategies and we are going to have to be ready for those or we will be in a bit of strife.''

The last time the two sides played was in Invercargill last year and the Steel won 60-55.

ANZ Championship
Steel v Swifts
Where:
Canberra.
When: Today, 3.30pm.
Steel: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Jodi Brown (captain), Shannon Francois, Phillipa Finch, Wendy Frew, Rachel Rasmussen, Storm Purvis, Phoenix Karaka, Erena Mikaere, Stacey Peeters, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Gina Crampton.
Swifts: Gretel Tippett, Susan Pratley, Sharni Layton, Caitlin Thwaites, Brooke Miller, Abbey McCulloch, Kimberlee Green (captain), April Letton, Carla Dziwoki, Madeline Hay, Sonia Mkoloma, Sarah Wall.

 

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