Steel's win over hapless Pulse keeps playoffs bid in tact

The Southern Steel kept their Trans-Tasman netball league playoffs hopes alive with a 66-44 win over the Central Pulse in Wellington today.

The win will give Steel a confidence boost ahead of a rugged finish to their regular season.

Four of their five remaining matches will be against Australian sides, West Coast Fever, Queensland Firebirds, Adelaide Thunderbirds and the NSW Swifts.

Steel coach Robyn Broughton rested Adine Wilson, who has a calf injury today, but the skipper was never required to make an appearance as Wendy Telfer and Liana Barret-Chase dominated the midcourt.

Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti, who towered over Pulse defenders Bessie Manu and Hannah Broederlow, had an armchair ride in the shooting circle, bagging a 100 percent success rate from 17 shots in the first half.

Her first miss was with her 20th attempt and when she came off for the final quarter, she had made 31 of 34 attempts.

Steel's cause was aided by another strong performance from fellow shooter Donna Wilkins who made 26 from 30.

The Pulse, who remain winless since the league started last year, made a good fist of matching their opponents until midway into the second quarter.

Shooter Paula Griffin had a strong 92 percent rate in the first quarter which the Pulse won 13-11.

Griffin continued to be accurate in the second quarter but Jamilah Gupwell had a poor 44 percent effort in the first half and the Pulse's challenge melted away.

Te Amo Amaru-Tibble replaced Gupwell in the second half and went on to notch a 100 percent record from 12 shots but it was too little too late as the Steel notched their biggest winning margin and highest score of the season.

"We needed this game to make the top four and getting this big score really helps us too," Steel's Telfer said.

Pulse skipper Cushla Lichtwark said the Pulse had showed in the first quarter that they were really looking after the ball.

"We were actually getting turnovers and working constructively as a group but we let the score blow out in the second half.

"We really need to put that 60 minutes together."