The Northern Mystics have extended their unbeaten run in the national netball premiership with a hard-earned 46-42 win over the Southern Steel in Auckland. Steel coach Reinga Bloxham replaced Jamaican goal attack Kalifa McCollin with Georgia Heffernan for the second quarter, and the southerners lifted to match the Mystics goal for goal early on. However, Mystics defenders Phoenix Karaka and Sulu Fitzpatrick worked hard to shut down Steel goal shooter Jen O'Connell, providing a useful supply of turnover ball which was duly converted at the other end. McCollin reprised her combination with O'Connell in the Southern Steel circle, but the pair could only sink nine from 11 and the Mystics went into the last quarter with a useful 37-29 lead. That margin evaporated quickly at the restart, the Steel looking threatening as they roared back to outscore the Mystics 7-2 and trail by three with eight minutes remaining.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 27, 2020 06:45 UTC