Northern Mystics reclaimed their spot at the top of the trans-Tasman netball league with a 60-49 win over Southern Steel in Auckland on Monday.
Trailing by four at halftime, the Mystics hit full stride in the second 30 minutes, running away in the final stages for a comfortable win to leapfrog back to the top of the table.
Maria Tutaia controlled the circle superbly, her accuracy and vision in the unfamiliar position of goal shoot complemented by the extra speed Grace Rasmussen offered at goal attack.
Tutaia's calmness and speed on the long shot kept the home team in touch in the first quarter as she sunk 11 from 12, the Mystics looking good on the counterattack with a slick transition from defence to attack.
But the Steel played with assurance and fluency through the midcourt, showing more willingness to turn and pass, and a four-goal run early on eased them out to a 15-13 lead after 15 minutes.
The combination between shooters Jodi Brown and Donna Wilkins, both vastly experienced former Silver Ferns, was outstanding.
They shared the shooting load evenly, in stark contrast to the Mystics where Tutaia shouldered the responsibility for putting the shots up.
A full-court defensive effort meant the Steel were able to build on their lead, with a particularly gritty effort coming from centre Phillipa Finch in shutting down the Mystics flow on attack as well as heading the Steel's drive to the circle.
Down 24-28 at halftime, the Mystics unleashed Silver Ferns shooter Cathrine Latu from the bench.
Tutaia moved back out to goal attack in a move which paid immediate dividends as the Aucklanders went on a six-goal run early in the third quarter.
Latu was in imperious form, dominating the circle and providing a real target under the post for some pinpoint long-range feeding from the mid-court.
The Mystics went into the final stanza with a 42-39 lead, forcing a desperate last-quarter change from the Steel in bringing on former Silver Fern Adine Wilson for wing attack Gina Crampton.
Wilson, named as cover for the injury-hit midcourt, hasn't played top netball for three years and looked a little rusty in adjusting to the pace of the game.
She eased into her work, but could do little as the Mystics cut loose to pile on 18 goals to the Steel's 10 in the closing 15 minutes for the 11-goal win.
NZN