Southern Steel have stolen victory over the Northern Mystics 58-57 in a stunning finish to the opening game the trans-Tasman netball league in Auckland.
Down by seven goals early in the final quarter, the visitors stormed back, scoring the last six goals over the last three and a half minutes of Friday's game to shock their more highly-rated opponents.
Jamaican goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler-Reid calmly slotted the winning goal with five seconds remaining after Mystics captain Maria Tutaia had turned the ball over at the opposite end.
The top-qualifying New Zealand team last season, the Mystics appeared to have the result in the bag after gradually opening up a lead of four goals following an arm-wrestle through the first three quarters and beginning the final stanza strongly.
New Steel coach Noeline Taurua praised the belief of her side, having told them going into the fourth quarter that they were well in the contest if they didn't relent.
Fowler-Reid was typically prolific, shooting 48 of 56 shots. The Mystics shooting was shared more evenly between Silver Ferns pair Tutaia (22/30) and Cathrine Tuivaiti (nee Latu) 35/40.
It was two of the less-regarded members of the Steel side who shone, with goal keep Jane Watson more than holding her own against the international shooting pair while wing attack Gina Crampton was the quickest, most accurate midcourter on show for either team.
The Mystics were heavily penalised, whistled 74 times to the Steel's 29, with goal keep Temalisi Fakahokotau and wing defence Anna Harrison penalised 21 times each.
Defender Holly Fowler and midcourter Fa'amu Ioane both made their ANZ Championship debut for the Mystics, alongside five Silver Ferns team-mates.
