Coach Tracey van Dal was disappointed with Souths' slow start but pleased with the Lions' recovery to beat Nova Thunder 59-38 in testing, wind-blown conditions on Saturday.
The win propelled Lions to 23 points and kept them unbeaten on top of the Newcastle championship netball ladder after playing every side once.
Nova, who were without experienced midcourter Katie Robinson through unavailability, shot out to a quarter-time lead but Souths had wrestled it back by half-time and were not headed from there.
"I think we trailed by two at quarter-time," van Dal said. "We just lacked the intensity from the first whistle, which is something we've worked really hard on this year and we have been able to do most games. So it was disappointing to have a first quarter the way that we did.
"We upped the intensity in the second quarter, particularly in defence, and we shut down their key attacking play which was quite dominant in the first quarter."
Van Dal praised the efforts of evergreen centre Narelle Eather, who turned over a lot of ball for Souths, and a strong performance from goalkeeper Georgia King.
The loss left Nova in fourth position with 17 points, two ahead of Inner Glow in fifth.
Second-placed University of Newcastle (21 points) staged a third-quarter fightback to beat Inner Glow 43-31 in what coach Traci Baber described it as "an ugly win".
Goal shooter Sabina Gombosa hurt her ankle playing NSW Premier League in Sydney midweek and was kept on the bench in the first half as a precaution but was one of four changes Baber made at half-time as University chased the game.
"They played really well and I think we were three or four down down at quarter-time and about the same at half-time," Baber said.
"Sabina went on with Mackenzie Stuart at half-time and we've brought a new defender into the team, Phoebe Seamer. She played second half at goalkeeper and she went really well.
"The second half was a lot calmer. It was quite a physical game and we probably didn't adjust to that physicality great in the first half.
"It was a close game and they're a good side. They've got a tall shooter. They feed very well to her. Their midcourt is strong and they go after everything. They don't give you anything. So you've really got to work hard."
West Leagues Balance took outright third place with what coach Tracey Baggs described as a "tough" 35-29 win over Kotara South.
West were missing three midcourters, including Sophie Buckley, and goal shooter Maddie Taylor. Savannah Angelozzi and Jemma Lucas stepped up from opens and gave strong accounts of themselves.
"Jemma is a real talent and played outstanding, both in defence and midcourt," Baggs said. "It was our defence across the court which got us over the line. Being able to turn balls over and get it back down into our attack is probably what won it for us."
The win moved West two points ahead of Nova to 19.
Junction Stella produced their first win of the season when they defeated BNC Whanau 40-37 in another tight encounter.
Round eight results: Souths beat Nova 59-38; West Leagues Balance defeated Kotara South 35-29; University of Newcastle beat Inner Glow 43-31; Junction Stella beat BNC Whanau 40-37.
Pointscore: Souths 23, University of Newcastle 21, West Leagues Balance 19, Nova 17, Inner Glow 15, Kotara South 11, Junction 11, BNC Whanau 8.
