Latest news with #AscotParkHotelSouthernSteel
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Steel Vs Stars: Steel End Season On A Positive Note
14 July 2025 Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel wrapped up fourth spot on the points table after posting a closely-fought 61-55 win over Go Media Stars in Invercargill on Monday. Both teams were out to finish the season on a positive note, the Steel looking to get over the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the Finals Series while the Stars have not had luck on their side in an injury-ravaged campaign. Despite nothing riding on the final match of the regular season, with both sides already out of Finals Series contention, there was no lack of desire from either side, the Steel holding the edge in the second half to clinch the spoils on the back of a solid season. Closely contested throughout, the Steel held a two-goal advantage coming into the final quarter during which they took control and shut down any chance of a Stars comeback. Key targets at both ends, Aliyah Dunn for the Steel and the Stars Maia Wilson, did all that was asked of them from the goal shoot positions with Dunn nailing 42 from 43 and Wilson 44/45. In the end, the Steel won the moments that mattered while having slightly the better of the possession stakes. The Stars competed gamely but just lacked the consistency to keep the Steel under the pump. Both sides made solid and effective starts with the Steel managing to nose in front on the back of pacey and accurate attacking play which was expertly finished by shooters Dunn and Georgia Heffernan. The Stars also gained traction from the long game to bring the contest back to level terms. Defensive pressure from Carys Stythe and Abby Lawson created turnover opportunities for the home side in the Stars attacking zone, ultimately iced by a super shot from Georgia Heffernan to push the Steel out to a 14-10 lead at the first break. With defenders Lili Tokaduadua and Remi Kamo getting their hands to intercept opportunities on the resumption, the Stars clicked into gear. Converting their extra ball opportunities, the confidence levels lifted from the visitors. That resulted in finding their flow, speed and accuracy on attack where the movement of captain Wilson opened the space under the hoop with the ball landing perfectly via Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Lisa Mather. Starting with an 8-4 run against them, the Steel took a tactical time out before the Stars nudged into narrow lead, the last five minutes of the second stanza going goal-for-goal and ending in a 28-all stalemate at the main break. The Steel turned the tables during a high-scoring and entertaining third quarter. The home side needed no second invitation when pouncing on a couple of early lapses in the Stars scoring zone. The response was rapid and highly accurate through-court play where Kate Heffernan and Kimiora Poi worked the ball expertly to set up the shooting duo of Georgia Heffernan and Dunn. The shooters worked seamlessly in tandem, Heffernan sharing the load while Dunn continued her strong season with an impressive showing. The Stars hung on admirably, with midcourter Reuelu-Buchanan and Kate Heffernan having a mighty tussle while Wilson ended the stanza in style when sinking a super shot to narrow the Steel's lead to 45-43 at the last break, leaving the game wide open.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Steel Continue Their Winning Climb
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel stretched their winning streak to three when compiling an impressive win over AVIS Magic to open Round 8 in Invercargill on Saturday. With both teams still well in contention for the Finals Series, the Steel continued their momentum to grab third place outright for the time being while denying the Magic the opportunity to grab valuable points. Coming into the match after securing back-to-back wins as opposed to the Magic's back-to-back losses, the Steel picked up from where they left off, exerting their extra overall polish across the opening three quarters to hold the Magic at arms-length for much of the outing. The Magic finished strongly with a last quarter flurry to win the final 15 minutes 18-11 but being outplayed across the first three-quarters, it was a case of too little too late. The Steel enjoyed 10 more attempts at goal with mainstay shooter Aliyah Dunn rock-solid under the hoop when providing a handy day's work and converting 43 from 45. The Steel made the sharpest of starts to build an early lead through their flow and accuracy on attack. That was well supported by shooters Dunn and Georgia Heffernan who converted every opportunity that came their way. The Magic halted a four-goal run from the home side to come back into the game well. Stiffer defensive efforts paid off while the movement and athleticism of shooters Saviour Tui and Ameliaranne Ekenasio kept the contest close. It was shooting accuracy which proved the difference at the first break, the Steel leading 15-13 after nailing all their opportunities and the Magic missing two after both had equal attempts. Each side delivered exciting passages of flowing play at times on the resumption but as the respective defences tightened up, there was more strategy required and playing the ball around before the openings occurred. This opened the door for defensive opportunities to break the goal-for-goal impasse and it was the Steel who pounced with telling effect. The intense pressure employed by Carys Stythe and Abby Lawson under the Magic hoop resulted in turnovers while at the other end Dunn and Georgia Heffernan continued their recent strong form. The pair shared the load expertly and intuitively in feeding off each other with Dunn producing a standout first half through her positioning, pin-point shooting and rebounding ability. The Magic had their moments but were unable to stem a storming finishing from the home side, whose ability to disrupt and grab extra opportunities paid dividends when they completed a strong second spell when heading into the main break with a 33-25 lead. In a similar pattern to the previous quarter, the Steel made impressive impact in the latter stages of the third. With Ali Wilshier and Claire O'Brien delivering perfect ball into Tui, the Magic initially stayed in touch with their southern opponents but their ability to sustain and execute was eventually found wanting. The relentless focus from the Steel's defensive patterns and easier through-court transition meant there was no let-up for the Magic with misguided passes and inaccuracies taking a toll. Lacking the same efficiency and accuracy the visitors were left playing catch-up. Dunn and Georgia Heffernan continued to stamp their mark at the Steel shooting end with Kimiora Poi marshalling the attack end in an impressive overall team effort. Relishing their dominance, the Steel rattled in the goals to keep building on an advancing scoreline when they led 53-38 at the last turn.
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Steel Come From Behind For Crucial ANZ Premiership Points
With their season on the line, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel have scrapped to a crucial one-goal win over Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse earning maximum points for a move up the ladder. But it took everything from their squad to come from behind for the 58-57 victory over the Pulse at TSB Arena in Wellington, handing the hosts their third straight loss. Just one spot in the ANZ Premiership finals series remains free with the Tactix and Mystics having already sewn up two, currently holding down first and second place on the ladder with a points margin to ensure they will feature in the play-offs. The Steel, who now move into fourth place, went into the match knowing that nothing less than victory was needed to stay in the hunt for a top three spot and they continually surged against a Pulse team also looking to rediscover some form with only three games remaining in the regular season. Producing her best performance of their campaign, Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan was instrumental in the result including landing a key two-point play in the dying minutes of the match and putting in a high work-rate both inside and out of the shooting circle. The Pulse looked to have grabbed the initiative in the deciding stanza and when Steel wing defence Renee Savai'inaea was suspended for late and dangerous play midway through the spell, many would have expected the hosts to march on. But in an indication of the ebbs and flows of the game, the Steel stepped up and hurried the Pulse into errors as the intensity lifted another notch – mammoth tussles across the court producing plenty of great moments. The Steel well-and-truly buried the 25-goal loss they suffered to the Pulse in Round 4 as both teams brought the desperation for maximum points as the business end of the season looms – the Pulse's defensive efforts helping them to a stronger start on the scoreboard, as they showed greater connections up front to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Overcoming their early wobbles, the Steel settled into their work against the smothering Pulse defence, showing patience to work the ball into Aliyah Dunn particularly with goal keeper Kelly Jackson hunting outside of the circle for the hosts. The disconnect up front from the Pulse has been evident in recent weeks but both Tiana Metuarau and Maddy Gordon rediscovered their links to Amelia Walmsley in the opening stanza. The Pulse shooter was a key target as the hosts edged further ahead – the quick release, including 20 long feeds during the first quarter, into Walmsley proving difficult for the Steel to halt. While Walmsley landed the lion's share of the Pulse's points, the shooting load was evenly shared between Dunn and Georgia Heffernan in the Steel circle and the visitors went into the first break trailing just 14-16. Georgia Heffernan picked up from her first quarter efforts on the resumption of play as the Steel hit the front on the scoreboard for the first time and forced the Pulse into personnel changes with Gabi Simpson replacing Fa'amu Ioane at wing defence and the hosts snatching back a slim advantage. With five goals the difference, thanks to a messy patch of play from the Steel, the visitors used a timeout for a double change on defence with Kate Lloyd and Abby Lawson injected into the game. It did little to stem the flow of ball into Walmsley, who despite blemishing her accuracy record under the hoop, was still the main scorer for a Pulse team which enjoyed a six-point buffer heading into the super shot period of play. But knowing that nothing short of a win would suffice, the Steel surged again and a two-point buzzer beater from Georgia Heffernan left the visitors down 30-34 at halftime. Carys Stythe returned action for the Steel after the break, but the Pulse feeders continued to drive into the pockets for an easier sight of Walmsley as a six-point margin again opened up. But a timeout was needed from the Pulse as the Steel's niggle started to take its toll and at the midway mark of the stanza the hosts pounced on two unforced errors to take some control heading into the deciding spell with a 50-41 lead.
