The Southern Steel have upset the Northern Mystics 58-57 in a thrilling come from behind win in the opening match of the trans-Tasman netball competition in Auckland.
The Mystics led by five goals with just a couple of minutes to play but the Steel scored the last six goals of the match to overturn the deficit and win by one goal.
The Steel led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter before the Mystics took a one goal lead into the halftime break, 30-29.
Wendy Frew Southern Steel captain. Photo: Photosport
The home side extended that to four goals 45-41 at threequarter time and appeared to be in control of the match.
But the Steel refused to give up and roared back into the game to take the win.
Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew said the result was a big confidence boost for the season ahead and was particularly pleased her team never game up.
"Just the grit, we held on to our cool. We were down by a lot in the last couple of minutes but just kept chipping back. We showed composure and we showed brains and we've probably been guilty of not doing that last year so its great to come out on top."
Mystics captain Maria Tutaia said her side simply didn't play out out the entire match.
"It rips your undies that one....we were there for 58 minutes but those last two minutes just let us down."