Southern Steel to warm up in Queenstown

Central Otago netball fans will be able to see Southern Steel in the flesh again next year when they host a preseason tournament in Queenstown in February.

Steel competed in a five-team tournament in the resort town earlier this year in the lead-up to the trans-Tasman netball competition and, because it was so well supported, they have decided to return.

Steel chief executive Julie Paterson told The Southland Times yesterday that Steel and five other sides will play at the Queenstown Events Centre from February 19 to 21.

The Northern Mystics, Canterbury Tactix, Queensland Firebirds and an Australian Institute of Sport team have all been confirmed, with either the New South Wales Swifts or Central Pulse set to fill the final spot in the tournament.

Paterson said Steel were delighted to be returning to Queenstown – where the team has a large following. "It's such a good opportunity to take netball out into the community ... This year it was a huge success."

The Queenstown Events Centre is unable to host ANZ Championship matches because of its small capacity.

Steel will not be short of preparation leading into the new ANZ Championship, which begins against West Coast Fever in Invercargill on March 21.

Besides playing in Queenstown, Steel also have warmup matches against the Tactix in Christchurch on February 6 and in Dunedin on March 13. They will also head to Sydney from March 6 to 7 to participate in the SOPA Cup against the five Australian franchises. Steel will be the only New Zealand side at that tournament.

Paterson said all Steel players will be Invercargill or Dunedin from January 25, once the Silver Fern and New Zealand under-21 camps – which run from January 11 to 23 – finish up.

- © Fairfax NZ News