ANZ Premiership: Southern Steel juggernaut thunders on in big win over Mystics

The Steel celebrate. Photo / Photosport

The Steel juggernaut continues to thunder on.

Even after giving the Mystics an 8-1 headstart, the Southerners ran out 20-goal winners in today's second Super Sunday clash, with the Auckland side unable to find an answer to the pace and precision of the Steel once they found some traction on attack.

The match-up between the unbeaten Steel and star-studded Mystics outfit was the most anticipated of the three Super Sunday clashes, with the two sides delivering a memorable goal-fest in their previous meeting in Auckland back in round two.

While the Steel recorded a convincing 74-67 win on that occasion, the Mystics had managed to match them goal-for-goal for all but the final three minutes. So when the Mystics charged out to an seven goal lead in the opening minutes on the back of some strong unit work on defence, it looked as though we were in for another high-octane clash.

But the opening six minute spell proved to be the only shots the Mystics really fired, as once Steel shooters Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid found their connection, it was virtually one-way traffic.

The Mystics, led by a tireless defensive effort from Anna Harrison, did a better job of disrupting the Steel attack than most sides have done, keeping the Southerners to under 70 goals for the first time this season.

The problem was, those turnovers were rarely converted at the other end of the court, with Steel defenders Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and player of the match Jane Watson, doing an impressive job of winning the ball back for their side.

Steel captain Wendy Frew believed the 66-46 scoreline did not reflect the intensity of the match.

"It was a pretty scrappy game from us, there were a lot of basic errors we normally don't make, and the Mystics put us under a lot of pressure," said Frew.

"They definitely slowed us down tonight."

The win gives the Steel one-point buffer over the Magic at the top of the ANZ Premiership table - a lead they will have the opportunity to extend tomorrow night when they take on the Central Pulse in what will be a tough test of the fitness and resilience of both sides.

The Pulse and Magic got the second of the "Super Sunday" rounds off to a fiery start today as the Waikato-Bay of Plenty side emerged victorious in a one-goal thriller.

The last time the two sides met back in round two, the Magic also got the better of the Pulse, toppling the team from the Capital in a tight match in Rotorua. That match was the Pulse's only loss from the opening five rounds, and you could sense Katrina Grant and co were eager to make up for it today.

But after a fast start, the Pulse lost their connections and rhythm on attack and the match became a battle of defensive grit.

In the end it was the Magic, led by their defensive warrior Casey Kopua and gutsy midcourter Sam Sinclair, that found the edge when it mattered.

The final Super Sunday match-up between competition stragglers the Northern Stars and Mainland Tactix also delivered a tight contest.

Seeking to put the drama of the past week behind them following the resignation of their coach Sue Hawkins, the Tactix looked on track for their first win of the season as they stalked out to a four-goal lead mid-way through the third spell.

But the Tactix had to settle for a bonus point - their first of the season - as the Stars reclaimed control over the final 20 minutes of the match.