Thunderbirds were go against Steel

Southern Steel was left ruing a first-quarter blitz from the Adelaide Thunderbirds that ultimately put paid to any chance of a Steel win in yesterday's ANZ Championship netball clash.

As has been the pattern throughout the first three rounds of the competition, the Thunderbirds' defence was brilliant throughout the court, but particularly in the goal third where defenders Mo'onia Gerrard, Geva
Mentor and centre Natalie von Bertouch were snapping up every loose ball, rebound and intercept they could.

The final score of 54-41 in favour of the Thunderbirds, playing their first home game this season, could have been a lot closer - Steel's 41 came from 58 attempts at goal, while the Thunderbirds' 54 came from 62.

But regardless of that it was the first quarter that was reflected in the fulltime score.

It was by far the worst start from Southern Steel this season.

Both teams were guilty of turnovers in the early stages, but once the Thunderbirds settled into the game, they thrived.

Steel coach Robyn Broughton had spoken about treasuring any turnover ball, but it just wasn't happening as Steel's attack end struggled and crucial ball was thrown away.

The Thunderbirds, with accurate shooting from Kristen Heinrich (10 from 12 attempts) and Natalie Medhurst (six from six) shot eight consecutive goals before Steel finally broke their run, finishing the quarter down 15-6.

From there Steel upped its game. Liana Barrett-Chase and Jenny-May Coffin were doing a power of work in the midcourt, but the Thunderbirds were capitalising on every ball they got - shooting at a 100 per cent success rate in the second quarter.

Jess Tuki made her ANZ Championship debut at goal attack, coming on for Megan Dehn, and was met with some ferocious defending at the hands of Gerrard.

Come the third quarter, with the score 27-16 to the Thunderbirds, both coaches rang the changes.

For Steel it was defensively based, with Erika Burgess on at goal defence and Wendy Telfer to wing defence, while Dehn also returned to the court.

For the Thunderbirds, it was a chance to stretch some unused legs, with former Perth player Kate Beveridge getting her Thunderbirds debut, Bianca Reddy getting a stint at goal defence and Gerrard moved to wing defence.

The moves looked to have created a much closer match, with Steel closing the gap to just six at one stage.

Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti was in-form, shooting from anywhere and everywhere and there was a feeling a Steel comeback could be on the cards.

But again, crucial ball went astray.

And with it, went any hope of a Steel victory or even a flattering score for the visitors to take home.

Broughton used the final quarter to give Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Julianna Naoupu some valuable trans-Tasman experience and was pleased to be able to give her full squad a run.

- © Fairfax NZ News