The Steel lost 60-44 to the Mainland Tactix in the team’s second pre-season game in Timaru on Saturday morning. It also lost 54-46 on Friday night.
It was literally the old cliche a game of two halves — the Steel had the first half and led 27-25 at halftime but the Tactix had the best of the second.
The Steel had a good start with Georgia Heffernan stepping up in the circle with the absence of George Fisher. She demanded the ball, drove the base hard and opened up space for herself and goal shoot Jess Allan.
Still, it was a struggle at times to find a target in the circle, forcing players to work the ball until an opening came.
The Tactix went on a run through the middle of the quarter, following a flying Kimiora Poi intercept, and some covering defence from Silver Ferns Jane Watson and Karin Burger.
Ivari Christie took two good intercepts for the Steel, one screaming through court from a Tactix square ball and another from a tip on the circle edge.
It gave the Steel the edge and a 13-12 lead at the break.
Te Paea Selby-Rickit entered the game in the second quarter and made a difference, looking long to Aliyah Dunn under the post.
Dunn finished with 100% shooting accuracy, but the Tactix struggled through the middle period, with the Steel’s covering defence stepping up a notch.
The Steel’s attack played with good width, Heffernan continued to direct the angles and new shooter Meleitia Tatupu gave a better target at the back to carry a 27-25 lead into halftime.
Tactix had the better of the third quarter. Selby-Rickit came into the game more at goal shoot and Laura Malcolm showed her calm nature on debut at centre.
The Steel’s defence struggled to keep up with the Tactix intensity in patches and missed captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit’s experience in the circle, as she sat out the match with a calf niggle.
The Steel also gave its training partners, and up-and-coming group, a run during the third quarter, with player loads managed through a busy pre-season.
There were still errors from both sides, as they tested out combinations early in the season.
But it was the Tactix that pushed ahead and jumped out to a 41-46 lead at the break.
The Steel’s flow from earlier is missing and the Tactix capitalised on its turnover ball in the fourth quarter to take the game.
The Tactix only missed two shots the entire game, while the Steel struggled with its accuracy when under pressure.
There is still plenty to work of for both teams as they head into the ANZ Premiership pre-season tournament in Otaki this week.
Pre-season game
The scores
Mainland Tactix 60
Aliyah Dunn 17/17, Vika Koloto 16/17, Te Paea Selby-Rickit 27/28
Southern Steel 44
Jess Allan 18/25, Georgia Heffernan 18/23, Meleitia Tatupu 8/11
Quarter scores: 13-12, 27-25, 41-36, 60-44
