The Southern Steel earned its toughest win of the Super Club Netball in defeating the New South Wales Institute of Sport 77-61 in Nelson last night.
After beating the Gauteng Jaguars by 44 goals and the University of Trinidad and Tobago by 31 goals, the Steel was held to 16 goals by its Australian rival.
The Steel established a six-goal lead after the first quarter, but then eased the pressure, extending that lead by just four more goals over the next two quarters.
The Steel then showed its class in the final quarter to extend its winning run to 19 consecutive games.
Gina Crampton took most-valuable-player honours with 36 goal assists, most of which went straight to Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, who landed an impressive 68 of 72 goal attempts.
The Steel topped pool A and it now meets the Pulse at 8.30 tonight in a rematch of the ANZ Premiership final.
The Pulse finished runner-up in pool B after beating Marama Vou 67-50. The Mystics topped pool B after a 66-43 win over the Celtic Flames.
In the other match yesterday, Gauteng Jaguars and the University of Trinidad and Tobago drew 63-63.
The NSW Institute of Sport finished second in pool A and will play the Mystics at 6.40 tonight.
-By Jonny Turner
