Erwood standout in big Steel win

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel defender Abby Erwood is hoping a big offseason will translate into an even bigger ANZ Premiership.

The 21-year-old was a standout for the defending champions in the offseason, spurred on by what was a disappointing 2018 by her own standards.

“I definitely put some hard work in in the offseason. My performance last year wasn’t up to scratch and I wanted to prove something this year. I’m fortunate enough I’m getting the opportunity for more court time this year and I’m just learning and growing and doing my job,” Erwood said.

“(2017) was just one of the those years where I went backwards instead of forward. You have to have those years to get better and I’m really happy with where I’m at now and hopefully I can keep building.”

Photo: Southern Steel defenders Abby Erwood and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit attempt the rebound against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic at ILT Stadium Southland. Pic: Michael Bradley Photography

Erwood was superb in tonight’s 73-53 humbling of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, a result which was effectively over when the Steel outscored their opposition by 10 goals in the second quarter.

The Steel were able to use their bench, including Kendall McMinn who provided great impact off the pine.

“It’s just a matter of grinding out the game, getting those turnovers and then scoring off them. It’s been a massive goal for us, we’ve wanted to get that goal percentage up and we did that tonight.”

That was despite letting a five-goal lead slip late in the first quarter and being lucky to grab a one-goal advantage heading into the first break.

“It’s a matter of when you get those opportunities, you have to use them and put the foot down,” Erwood said.

Tonight’s win marked Lenize Potgeiter’s first game against her old team, and she made her former team pay with 39/43 over three quarters, while Kate Heffernan was a standout at wing defence and Shannon Saunders was acknowledged for her 100th game for the Steel franchise, which came up against the Tactix in Christchurch.

Saunders (nee Francois) remained a pivotal member of the team, Erwood said.

“She’s definitely one of those silent leaders, but she leads from the front and does her thing which really promotes me to do my thing. When she goes for a ball, I’m there to back her up.”

After playing three games on the road in the space of six days, the Steel will play their second home game in a row when they take on the Tactix at ILT Stadium Southland on Sunday.