A dominant Donna Wilkins helped the Southern Steel keep its ANZ Championship netball play-off hopes alive following a comprehensive 58-49 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Dunedin.
The former Silver Ferns shooter was an inspiring figure in a strong all-round team effort as the southerners put a dent in the talented Thunderbirds' aspirations of pushing for a top-two spot and a double-life in the play-offs.
It was a must-win for the fifth-placed Steel coming into the match but it made no race of it against the third-placed Thunderbirds.
The result pushed the Steel up into fourth place, just .four percent ahead of the Queensland Firebirds on shooting averages and meaning another do-or-die effort against the struggling NSW Swifts in next weekend's final round of matches.
It was the southerners who had marginally the better of the opening exchanges with both teams employing safety first tactics. There were few opportunities for turnovers as the respective attacking line-ups did a fine job of retaining possession.
It was an absorbing rather than scintillating match-up early on with both teams realising the importance of the clash.
Respective goal attacks Wilkins and Natalie Medhurst were prominent figures in the opening quarter, the pair showing their creative abilities to find space and convert their shots accurately.
Australian import Megan Dehn, who was playing social tennis three weeks ago, but rushed into the team to replace the pregnant Daneka Wipiiti, provided the perfect foil for Wilkins. The intuitive play between the pair helped the home team take a 16-13 lead into the first break.
Four positional and personnel changes by the Thunderbirds, including the switch of the abrasive Mo'onia Gerrard to muscle up against Wilkins at goal defence, did not have the desired effect on the resumption.
Playing the smarter netball with little ball being wasted, the Steel gradually built on their lead. Defenders Megan Hutton and Katrina Grant did a fine job of confusing the Thunderbirds' attackers who were astray on several occasions in trying to find their shooters.
Dangerous on their speed through court, the Thunderbirds were stymied in this area as the Steel employed a solid through court defence. Frustrated with their inability to break the shackles, the Thunderbirds faced a climbing penalty count as the Steel with the better composure took full advantage.
A masterful hand by Wilkins, who was in the thick of the action and who got the better of the opposing defenders, gave the southerners the necessary impetus to head into halftime with a handy 30-24 lead.
An out-of-sorts Gerrard ended up on the bench for the third quarter as the Steel went on to completely dominate the much-vaunted Thunderbirds in this stanza.
Showing the greater desire and with all players contributing, the home team's pressure rattled the visitors. While Medhurst continued her fine form under the goal and defender Geva Mentor had her moments, they had little support as the Thunderbirds failed to fire.
Liana Barrett-Chase and Adine Wilson played with intelligence on attack and backed up strongly to defuse the presence of Natalie von Bertouch as the Steel used its greater share of possession to coast into a comprehensive 46-35 lead at three-quarter time.
The Thunderbirds came storming back, throwing everything into a frantic final charge. A decisive lift in tempo spurred the visitors to greater efforts as they chipped into the lead. But the Steel was quick to regroup as it doused any chance of late comeback with a forceful finish.