Southerners steal last-gasp win

George Fisher clinched the winning shot in the dying seconds as the Southern Steel pipped the Magic 59-58 in a riveting national netball league clash in Dunedin on Sunday.

In the process, the young Steel team secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season while the Magic, who have not won since the first round, gained a well-deserved bonus point.

Leading by as much as six during the run to the finish line, the Steel were forced to dig deep as the plucky Magic refused to go away, levelling the scores with 53 seconds left on the clock.

However, the closeness of the match-up and Magic’s resurgent second half ensured an exciting spectacle from start to finish.

Steel captain Shannon Saunders was an influential presence with her pin-point passes into the circle while the combined defensive hustle of the team helped the home side secure a string of five straight goals and take a 17-12 lead into the first break.

Shooters George Fisher and Tiana Metuarau lifted the tempo in the second quarter, and although Magic defenders Erena Mikaere and Temalisi Fakahokotau had their moments, the finesse of the Steel shooters earned them a 33-26 lead at half-time

Scoring the first six goals of the third quarter, with Chiara Semple and Caitlin Bassett both on song, the Magic made up ground to reduce the Steel lead to 46-42 at the last break.

With the teams going goal-for-goal in the final spell, the scores were level at 58-58 with just 15 seconds on the clock before Fisher sunk the final crucial goal.