Ouch. That one hurts.
The Southern Steel has suffered its third straight loss, falling 74-40 against the Northern Stars in Auckland tonight.
In both sides second game of a double-header weekend, another blow out loss of more than 20 goals for the Steel, and the third game on the road for the Steel.
Tough start to the season.
In better news, it was the Steel’s highest score for the season and it will just take time for the new connections to settle.
Coach Reinga Bloxham tinkered with her starting line up, giving Ivari Christie her first start of the season at wing attack.
That shifted Sam Winders into centre, Kate Heffernan back to wing defence and a switch in the defensive circle, with Kate Burley out the front and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit back to goal keep.
It was, again, a better start for the Steel picking up a couple of turnovers. But it had the same problem - not being able to excute the shot.
The Steel struggled on its second phase off the centre pass, lacking depth through the third, and attackers were often found on top of each other.
They were forced to work extra hard outside to feed the ball into the circle, but that often meant it was a forced pass, or a misplaced long feed, resulting in a turnover.
It was the second quarter that did the most damage.
The Stars went on a seven goal unanswered run, with Elle Timu, playing in her 50th match, and Holly Fowler stealing tips and all over any loose balls.
Maia Wilson — notching up her highest tally with 58 goals — was dominant at the back, mixing up her game by getting on the move balanced with her trademark hold. Amorangi Malesala rolled the top, drawing Steel defenders to create more space for Wilson on the baseline.
That pushed the Stars out to a 35-19 lead at the break.
It was a better start to the third spell for the Steel, reverting back to its usual line up with Winders at wing attack, Kate Heffernan at centre and Renee Savai'inaea injected at wing defence.
The Steel led the quarter early — until the Stars came back into it.
Basic errors — offside, breaking, replay ball — cost the Steel, coughing the ball up for easy goals for the Stars.
Selby-Rickit got a nice intercept, snaffling up a feed across the circle, and Savai'inaea worked hard to keep Gina Crampton off the circle edge.
It was a better third spell, hitting double digits —17-12 — for the first time in a quarter.
Yet the Stars still led 52-30 and pushed on further in the final quarter to its record score in the ANZ Premiership.
The Steel now head home for the first time this season, taking on the Tactix in Invercargill next Monday.
