The intensity of a three-day pre-season tournament in Queenstown has been hailed as ideal preparation for the looming 2010 ANZ Championship. Teams at the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel-hosted event enjoyed ample opportunities to test their mettle and fans were treated to plenty of quality netball.

Click here for all Queenstown Pre-Season results
Click here for the Photo Gallery - courtesy of Dianne Manson

Some chinks in Steel's armour were uncovered for coach Robyn Broughton - exactly what the tournament was designed to do.

"It's shown up lots of things to work on and tidy up - it's just getting our act together and making sure we've got the right combinations, the right attitude - the whole lot," Broughton said. "Everybody's been on court in different positions and getting a feel for the hard-nosed play out there ... everyone's enjoyed it and there's a good feeling."

After a sneak preview, Broughton rated the New Zealand teams. "It's been good to see everyone out here and in action - certainly the New Zealand teams are looking good this year."

In Steel's only game on Sunday 21 February, they narrowly beat the Australian Institute of Sport 54-50.

"That was quite a physical game but that's what we're going to get so you just have to get on with it," Broughton said.

It was a successful trip across the Tasman for the Queensland Firebirds who were unbeaten after accounting for Central Pulse 48-39 this morning.

New coach Roselee Jencke relished the opportunity to tackle the New Zealand style. "It's really good for us to come here and get a touch of all the Kiwi teams," she said. "It's good experience for our girls to play against that style ... and know they can work through it successfully."

A highlight for the Firebirds was turning around a 12-goal deficit to salvage a 50-50 draw against Steel on Saturday night.

"In this competition, you can't afford to be in that chase position - you have to ensure you are level pegging," Jencke said. "It's character building and if they're ever in that position again they know they have the ability to knuckle down and come through it."

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said signs were encouraging. "It's early and one can't be angling for perfection. This tournament has been so worthwhile just to get a bit of a steer - we know where the gaps are now," she said.

"Our team has very high expectations of ourselves ... we really expect to be a lot more competitive this year. The potential is there and you get really excited about what might be but you try not to get too far ahead of yourself either."

The Northern Mystics headed home with just one win under their belt - a 71-39 defeat of the AIS team. However, captain Temepara George said the Mystics achieved their main objective - trialling various combinations.

"Obviously winning was something we wanted to do but it wasn't our first priority," she said. "We learned from our losses and that's important. This tournament has definitely shown what we need to work on. I think we're heading in the right direction - we're definitely not perfect but you don't really want to be perfect at this stage."

While George described her own team's performance as "dismal", Canterbury Tactix will take heart from its win over the Mystics on Saturday. After losing 40-50 to Pulse today, Tactix' only other victories came against the AIS - a team of raw talent.

The "highly competitive" nature of the tournament pleased coach Helen Mahon-Stroud.

"We've been able to see the capabilities of our players and how they work in different positions ... it's a comprehensive pre-season build-up and just gives them a really good hard workout," she said.


The Hottest Game in Town returns to SKY Sport, TV One (NZ), Channel Ten/ONE (Aus) and a stadium near you on Saturday 20 March.