Grace Namana ended the game on 100 percent accuracy from her 33 attempts. Photo: Photosport
Defending champions the Northern Mystics held their nerve to triumph, 61-52, over the Southern Steel in their ANZ Premiership netball clash in Invercargill.
Although the Mystics were clinical notching up their second win from two, the Steel were within three goals in the third quarter.
The return of former captain Shannon Saunders and a faultless shooting performance from Grace Namana, were the home side's highlights.
A 92 percent shooting performance from the Mystics and the seamless interchange of their strong bench players allowed them to keep in front throughout and pull away when they needed to.
Less than two minutes into the game, Saunders took the court at wing attack for her first game since having her first child.
Her vision and precision passing immediately lifted the confidence of the players around her, and the Steel had a much-improved start to the game than in their opening match.
The Mystics put pressure on the Steel at their centre pass, but when the ball got through to the Steel shooters, Namana and Georgia Heffernan were sure with their shots.
Goal shoot Namana ended the game on 100 percent accuracy from her 33 attempts and took out MVP.
Grace Nweke took much of the quarter to find her range, but after the first 15 minutes, the Mystics held the upper hand, 16-13.
Through some dogged defence in the circle from Carys Stythe and Phoenix Karaka, then Catherine Hall, the Mystics extended their lead to seven.
While the Steel midcourt of Saunders and captain Kate Heffernan, who picked up three sharp intercepts in the first half, kept the home side in the game, the shrewdness of Mystic feeders Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle, kept the Steel at arm's length.
Up 32-25 at halftime, the Mystics upped the ante immediately and pulled out to a double-figure lead for the first time, but the Steel gradually pegged it back.
Defenders Abby Lawson and Taneisha Fifita niggled the Mystics into basic errors and kept the defending champions scoreless for a rare three minutes.
A great understanding between Namana and Georgia Heffernan whittled the difference down to three, and saw the Steel eventually draw the third quarter.
But it was a run of five goals right at the death of that spell that put the Mystics comfortably back in control, 46-39.
Nweke ended the game with 91 percent accuracy, and was well supported by both her goal attacks Filda Vui and Hannah Glen.
Shooting Stats - Steel:
Grace Namana 33/33 (100 percent)
Georgia Heffernan 14/20 (70 percent)
Jennifer O'Connell 5/6 (83 percent)
Shooting Stats - Mystics:
Grace Nweke 48/52 (92 percent)
Filda Vui 9/9 (100 percent)
Hannah Glen 4/5 (80 percent)
Player of the Match: Grace Namana (Steel)