The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel extended their winning streak to five games with a commanding 52-43 victory over the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in Wellington on Sunday.

The Southland team came out firing, establishing a 9-2 lead within six minutes and forcing an early timeout from the home side. The Pulse fought back to close the gap to four at the first break, but Steel's patience and precision proved decisive.

"They are quite different shooters – one is quite aerial and one's a holder – so we had to adjust but I think we did it well," said Steel defender Carys Stythe, who added six gains to her impressive season tally.

Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn was flawless with 100 percent accuracy, while goal attack Georgia Heffernan shot at 82 percent to help build a 26-22 halftime lead. The third quarter proved crucial as Steel silenced the sold-out TSB Arena crowd, extending their advantage despite persistent pressure from the fifth-placed Pulse.

Steel captain Kimiora Poi praised her team's growing maturity. "I'm really happy and each week we're growing. We probably let them in a little bit when we got a good lead so it's just a matter of finishing," she told TVNZ.

Poi was instrumental with 43 feeds and three intercepts, while Stythe's defensive pressure and wing Renee Savai'inaea's fourth-quarter impact helped secure the victory.

Pulse co-captain Parris Mason acknowledged Steel's form. "They came out and they are playing some hella netball at the moment. When they play with the speed they are, and Georgia and Aliyah are just so solid in there, they have got the answers for basically everything at the moment," she said.

The win keeps Steel firmly in contention for the ANZ Premiership Finals Series as they continue their impressive run.

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