Netball

Netball is facing a massive challenge as it tries to compete with codes that are being cross subsidised by cashed up men's sports, the head of the New Zealand Netball Players' Association says.

Former Silver Ferns shooter Bailey Mes has called time on her netball career, making the difficult decision to step away from the game at all levels.

The Stars have taken a stride closer to the ANZ Premiership Finals Series with a 58-47 victory over the winless Southern Steel in Invercargill.

The Steel are facing a winless season after going down 52-45 to the Magic in their bottom-of-the-table ANZ Premiership clash.

The Pulse and Northern Stars have taken big steps towards securing their places in the ANZ Premiership play-offs with victories on Sunday.

The Pulse have cemented their place in the top two of the ANZ Premiership following a 54-45 win over the Tactix in Christchurch.

Tonga claimed a third PacificAUS Sports netball title in Australia on Saturday night after they defeated top seeds Malawi 54-41 in the final.

The Stars have kept their hopes of a place in the ANZ Premiership netball finals alive with a 61-55 win over Magic in Auckland.

After eight rounds of netball and a 6-5 win-loss ratio the one constant for the South Auckland based Stars has been the shooting accuracy of captain Maia Wilson.

Tiana Metuarau led her Pulse side in their continued march up the leaderboard with a 62-38 victory over the Southern Steel.

The Mystics have beaten the Pulse 56-51 in Porirua to go three points clear at the top of the ANZ Premiership.

Former Silver Ferns' captain Katrina Rore has been brought into the Pulse squad as injury cover for the ANZ Premiership team.

The Tactix have climbed to the top of the ANZ Premiership standings following an emphatic 58-41 win over the Magic in Rangiora.