MATCH REPORT : Steel take weak Pulse

by Kate Buchanan
A spectacular first half performance saw the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel outclass the Central Pulse 56-44 in Dunedin on Monday night.
Given the competitive nature of this year's ANZ Championship, the 12-goal final margin was certainly a drubbing – and the Pulse were lucky the damage wasn't worse.
Spurred on by a parochial home crowd at the Edgar Centre, the Steel had notched up a 21-goal advantage early in the third quarter – but then things began to slide.
As mistakes crept in and momentum waned, the second half was a stark contrast to the opening two quarters – to the frustration of Steel coach Robyn Broughton.
“I think we lost the zip and they (Pulse) picked up because they had nothing to lose,” she said.

READ FULL MATCH REPORT

PLAYER PROFILE : Wendy Frew (nee Telfer) 

Step into Wendy Frew's office at Netball Southland and her sporting career literally stares back at you from the posters adorning the walls.
The past nine consecutive team shots of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and its predecessor the Southern Sting feature Frew – morphing from baby-faced schoolgirl then to role model now.
At just 25, Frew can hardly be considered a veteran, but nearly a decade in the elite ranks is undoubtedly an impressive feat.
“It's been such a huge part of my life that one year rolls into another now, but I certainly never thought I'd be playing top level netball for nine years – and I'm still pretty young and have a few years left in me,” she said.
Call Frew a Southlander and a proud grin appears on her face. The Silver Ferns midcourter is testament geography plays no part in reaching sport's top echelon.

READ WENDY'S FULL PROFILE

Make sure you don't miss the next Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel HOME GAME against the Mission Queensland Firebirds on Monday 19th April in Dunedin for your chance to win a fantastic LG GW300 mobile phone at halftime !

LG GW300 : Exclusive to Vodafone        RRP $299

Slim, sleek and colorful, The LG GW300 is a phone that screams “trendy” and easily fits into your hands. Not only that, but the QWERTY Keyboard lets you text faster and easier. Enjoy texting just like online chatting with Threaded SMS. You can now keep your text threads in one conversation screen. The LG GW300 supports a 3.5mm headphone jack and with expandable memory of up to 2GB MicroSD, you can now enjoy your music while you are on the go.

The Hottest Seats in Town.. the "Kia Couch Experience"

KIA Motors have secured the Hottest Seats in Town… a courtside couch for two at each of Steel’s home games in Invercargill with drinks, nibbles, Steel merchandise plus much more and we want to give it away! 

If you know someone who deserves a special night out read The Eye this week for more details and get your nomination in now.
 
Right : Winner Kate Thomas (left) and best friend Ilana Edlin, both of Invercargill cheering on the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel on the Kia couch during the Fever game at Stadium Southland

This weekend is RIVALRY ROUND. Go New Zealand!

Rivalry Round will be contested in Round 4, where true country pride will be on the line. It is the five Australian teams up against the five New Zealand teams. In Round 4 this weekend, the total number of goals scored by all five Australian and all five NZ teams is added up, and the country with the highest cumulative score wins the Rivalry Round Trophy. Watch the Rivalry Round action on SKY Sport from 10 to 12th April.

A fan from one lucky ANZ Championship team will win the Ultimate Inner Sanctum experience this season in the Back your Team competition.

You and a friend could be sitting courtside at an ANZ Championship match, meet the team after the game and win other great prizes. Simply go to anz-championship.com and vote for your favourite ANZ Championship Team to go into the draw.

New Steel Apparel Just Arrived ! : TEE SHIRTS

SHOW YOUR COLOURS IN THESE STYLISH SUPPORTERS TEE-SHIRTS.

Ladies sizes : 10 to 18  only $35  

Girls sizes :  8 to 16 only $30

Available now. To order, email : melanie@southernsteel.co.nz
or phone 03 217 1303 or buy yours at the next Steel Home Game .

PLUS : Check out the great range of Southern Steel Merchandise CLICK HERE

The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel are proudly supported by the following sponsors

Skins, Strawberry Sound, Venture Southland, Meridian Mall, The Southland Times, Otago Daily Times, Massage Therapy Centre, Balance Physique, Solid Energy, H & J Smith, Allied Materials, McCallum's Drycleaning, 100% Selectrix Invercargill, Brownies Mattress Direct, Creation Signs, Neptune Water Carriers, Yellow Pencil Brand Sharp, C & G Rothbury, Coats and Schuck Jewellers, World Gym, Southland Real Estate, Plaza Supervalue, City Chiropractic, Arthur Barnett, Envious Photography, Riverside Rentals, Soeur Design, Stems on St Andrew.