Steel to host elimination final after tight win against Tactix

The Southern Steel will host the elimination final after winning the dress rehearsal against the Mainland Tactix in Invercargill.

They beat the Tactix 56-54 in front of a sold-out Stadium Southland this afternoon and will host the Canterbury side for a shot at the final on Sunday.

The Northern Mystics will host the grand final in a fortnight in Auckland after beating the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 53-42 on Saturday.

The Steel-Tactix clash went down to the wire and the score constantly flipped.

But the Steel, who called a time-out with 20sec on the clock, held strong and secured the win to put the Tactix on a three-game losing streak.

It was redemption for the Steel – who won the Hutton Family Trophy – after losing to the Tactix 55-42 in the ANZ Premiership opener.

Things were physical in the Steel shooting circle as Aliyah Dunn and Georgia Heffernan fought for their space against Ash Barnett and Laura Balmer.

The Steel sat in a box defensively, pushing the Tactix wide and slowing down their flow through their attacking flair.

But the Tactix were patient thanks to former Steel player Gina Crampton’s – who has stayed with the Tactix while captain Erikana Pedersen is injured – experience to wait for things to open.

Renee Savai’inaea brought the ball down the court, helping alleviate the pressure on her attackers and finding Dunn quickly.

The Tactix had a mini-run to lead 11-7, but Carys Stythe went for a fly on the angle to snatch the ball and the Steel levelled 11-11.

Dunn scored on the buzzer for the Steel to lead 15-14.

The Steel shooter was wrapped up in a battle again with Barnett and Balmer.

Savai’inaea pounced on the Tactix centre pass, picking up more ball in her best game of the season.

Serina Daunakamakama had a strong take in the pocket as Heffernan drove perfectly to take the landing space under the post.

The Tactix defenders kept the Steel high and off the circle edge, but Jessie Laga’aia and Daunakamakama drew their defenders wide and Heffernan found Dunn home alone.

Heffernan flicked it in off the post for an easy goal and added another for the Steel to lead 29-28 at halftime.

It was a frantic start to the second half. There were intercepts and turnovers everywhere, but the Steel were the first to score after Stythe came around and snaffled the ball.

Daunakamakama let the ball go from the centre third to Dunn.

Holly Mather picked up a much-needed ball on the circle edge, but the Steel forced another turnover.

The Tactix coughed up ball and struggled to find the same entries in their attacking end.

But they came right towards the end of the quarter and removed the three-point lead the Steel held.

Balmer snatched a great intercept and the Tactix held a 41-39 lead at the break.

Savai’inaea’s outside arm snatched yet another tip as she helped the Steel comeback at 42-42.

But Balmer hung out side and picked up another intercept and the Tactix restored a three-point lead.

The Steel came back to level 50-50 and held their nerve to bring the game home.