With all six teams in the South for the ANZ Premiership’s Super Sunday tomorrow, Jeff Cheshire looks at how they are tracking.
Southern Steel
Clearly the dominant team this season, the Steel has won each of its five games, racking up at least 70 points every time.
In Jhaniele Fowler-Reid it has the premiership’s most influential player, topping the scoring charts with 272 goals at 93%.
The Steel lost its only quarter without her this season, 15-12 against the Stars, although it was also without ace defender Jane Watson.It has quality throughout, however, and anything other than two resounding victories would be a surprise.
Having played on Wednesday night it faces three games in six days, meaning fatigue could be a factor.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic
One of three teams jostling for positions two through four on the table, the Magic enters the weekend with a four-win, two-loss record.
It was thrashed in its last trip south, as it could not contain a rampant second half from the Steel, while it was toppled by the Northern Mystics that weekend.
In its first match against the Pulse it won 52-50 and the rematch may be the game of the round.
Look out for its classy defensive duo of Casey Kopua and Kelly Jury, as well as tall South African shooter Lenzie Potgieter.
Central Pulse
This could be the Pulse’s best season, with a four win, one loss record, its loss by only two points.
But, and it is a big but, it is yet to play the Steel.It does not tend to score a lot of goals — its top is 56 in its first game.
However, a strong defensive duo of Katrina Grant and Phoenix Karaka makes it a hard team to score against.
There is arguably no tougher task in this league than back-to-back games against the Magic and Steel, but that is the prospect facing the Pulse.
Northern Mystics
No-one has got closer to the Steel this year, falling away in the last three minutes last time the teams met.
Despite that, the Mystics find themselves with just two wins from five games, with an imposing rematch against an in-form Steel team tomorrow. They boast the Silver Ferns shooting combination of Maria Tutaia and Bailey Mes and have approached 70 points twice this season.
However they were held to just 43 by the Pulse on Monday in a losing effort.
Four of their five games have come against the three teams ahead of them, though. The ones against the bottom two should be bankers and having those up their sleeve will help their table position.
Northern Stars
The Stars have managed just one win so far in their first season.
The good news is that it is a chance of making that two, as they play the Mainland Tactix, a team they beat last time.
While they have struggled against the top four teams, they should have more than enough to deal to the lowly Tactix
Cutting down on its mistakes will be key, as goal shoot Maia Wilson has been effective when given ball to work with.
Mainland Tactix
The Canterbury team has been on the wrong end of some big scorelines and it would do well to turn things around this year.
Coach Sue Hawkins has resigned, while on court it lacks the star power of the other teams.
The Stars look to be its one beatable team, but the Tactix will do well to emerge with a win tomorrow.
Super Sunday
in Invercargill
2pm Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic v Central Pulse
4pm Southern Steel v Northern Mystics
6pm Mainland Tactix v Northern Stars
Monday
7.40pm Southern Steel v Central Pulse
