Follow the action as the Northern Mystics and Southern Steel clash in the ANZ Premiership grand final in Auckland. Elimination final report by Nathan LimmThe Southern Steel are into their first ANZ Premiership grand final since 2018, after cruising to a 60-54 victory over the defending champions, the Mainland Tactix, in Invercargill’s elimination final.It means they will face the Northern Mystics, who beat the Steel in extra time at the end of May, in Auckland in Saturday’s big dance.The damage to the Tactix’s hopes was done in the first quarter, with the Steel racing out to a 17-11 lead. The match was relatively blow-for-blow for the remainder, with a frantic and inaccurate Tactix lineup unable to reel in the deficit.Silver Ferns Georgia Heffernan and Carys Stythe front-footed the Steel’s efforts, backing up their inclusion in Dame Noeline Taurua’s 12-player Commonwealth Games squad heading to Glasgow in a few weeks.Stythe produced 12 gains, including five intercepts and seven deflections. Heffernan produced a crucial two-pointer in the opening quarter. She also slotted 21 goals from 22 attempts in one-point range, had 21 centre pass receives and 12 feeds.Stythe was ecstatic to reach her maiden grand final with the Steel.“Amazing. I’m actually lost for words,” she told TVNZ.Stythe said getting selected for the Silver Ferns added extra motivation.“But also, we’ve been working so hard for the last two years. We’ve kept the core of our group. We just missed out last year, so we wanted to prove to everyone we should be in that final, and we did it.”The Steel and the Tactix were fairly evenly matched through most of the opening quarter before momentum swung violently in favour of the hosts.Tactix goal attack Amorangi Malesala missed a two-point attempt, allowing the Steel to open up a lead. They pressed the advantage further when Heffernan converted from the perimeter at the other end of the court.Stythe had the ascendancy over Tactix goal shoot Charlie Bell. The defender picked off two first-quarter intercepts and Bell lost the ball over the baseline a couple of times.The Tactix’ discipline let them down, conceding 19 penalties to the Steel’s nine. Tactix centre Holly Mather also gave up three turnovers.Things went from bad to worse for the Tactix at the start of the second quarter, with the Steel jetting out to an 11-goal lead. An ill Gina Crampton was replaced at wing attack by Taiana Day, with the Tactix struggling to feed their shooters.Mainland coach Donna Wilkins gave her side an almighty tune-up during a timeout, which had the desired effect.Goal keep Ash Barnett and goal defence Laura Balmer swapped positions, and the Tactix pulled back the deficit to 32-24 by halftime, losing the second quarter 15-13.The Tactix started the third quarter strongly with an early turnover, but failed to keep up the momentum. Malesala missed a pair of two-point attempts, and Steel shooters Aliyah Dunn and Heffernan continued to be clinical. The quarter finished 16-16, with the Steel up eight goals heading into the final quarter.The hosts slowed play down in the fourth and refused to allow the Tactix to eat into their lead. Hannah Glen subbed in for Bell and gave the visitors a glimmer of hope. Glen and Malesala slotted consecutive two-pointers, but it proved to be too little too late.