Southern Steel denied Central Pulse a trans-Tasman netball league win for the second time in two weeks, stealing a last-gasp 55-55 draw in Palmerston North.
A fortnight after they pipped the Pulse 50-49 in Dunedin, the Steel forced a draw from a game at Arena Manawatu that the Pulse should have won.
The Steel's ability to score quickly with the long bomb into Jhaniele Fowler-Reid proved vital as the towering Jamaican international sunk the crucial goal with time up on the clock.
For the Pulse, Silver Ferns Ameliaranne Wells and Jodi Brown impressed with a fluid combination, both in the shooting circle and outside.
Brown's work up-court and vision in the goal third was outstanding, and her accuracy on goal meant she missed only two of her 22 attempts.
Brown and Wells constructed an unpredictable, mobile shooting circle while the Steel relied on their unerringly accurate long-range game to find Fowler-Reid under the post.
Leading 15-14 at the first break, the Pulse through-court defence fell off in the second spell and the Steel began to find Fowler-Reid with increasing ease.
The visitors opened out a five-goal lead, wing attack Gina Crampton in particular showing fine timing and excellent variation with her feed into Fowler-Reid.
But the Pulse dug in, finishing the quarter with a four-goal burst to go into halftime trailing 28-29.
They kept the pressure up right through the third quarter, the introduction of Ama Agbeze at goal keep for Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit proving key.
The English international's quick hands and feet kept Fowler-Reid under pressure, freeing up goal defence Katrina Grant to go hunting for intercepts further up the court.
The Pulse finished the third quarter strongly, sinking three goals on end to lead 43-41 going into the last 15 minutes.
They extended that margin five minutes into the final quarter to lead 46-41, but paid the price for a series of soft turnovers which Fowler-Reid and substitute goal attack Brooke Leaver ruthlessly converted.
The draw means the Steel keep their third place on the New Zealand conference ladder with only two games remaining until the playoffs.
Share
