Pulse edge Mystics in battle of unbeaten teams
Two undefeated teams walked into Auckland Netball Centre last night, but only one could claim that honour as they headed for the showers.
The Central Pulse beat the Northern Mystics, 42-35, to keep their perfect record intact after the third round of the ANZ Premiership.
Winning is what the Central Pulse do. Well, it is what they do these days.
Fans who sat through nine seasons of trans-Tasman league action will remind you it hasn’t always been the case.
But from the start of the 2017 season to the first centre pass last night, they had won 38 of their last 51 matches, 28 of their last 34, made it to three grand finals, and won their first title, which they are currently seeking to defend.
They are the favourites to win a second at the end of August, but last night’s match was a boost for anyone who fancies dethroning them, even though they got the W, as it showed they can be kept in check.
Seven matches into the newlook post-Covid-19 season, which features 12-minute quarters, and for the first six weeks, a solitary venue in east Auckland, the Mystics had appeared to be the Pulse’s closest rivals and they certainly lived up to that expectation.
The Aucklanders have a defensive circle with international experience, in Sulu Fitzpatrick and Phoenix Karaka, the incumbent Silver Ferns goal defence, and a thrilling young prospect in shooter Grace Nweke. Those are kind of players you need to take it to a team like the Pulse, and take it to them they did.
Aliyah Dunn opened up a fivegoal goal lead for the Pulse eight minutes into the first quarter, but they weren’t able to have it easy from there.
The Mystics had to fight hard to break through the Pulse’s swarming defence, but once they got into the attacking third, they were generally able to find Nweke, who was getting the better of Kelly Jury, but missed a chance to tie things up inside the final minute of the period.
It was 10-8 to the Pulse at the first break, as they went down the other end and scored, but four minutes into the second quarter, the Mystics got their noses in front, persisting in working the ball patiently to their shooting star.
At one point midway through the spell, the Pulse had only put up six shots in 12 minutes – and missed two of them – but two in the space of 20 seconds, the second a long bomb by Ameliaranne Ekenasio, made it 16-16.
Two more followed in quick succession – after a tight umpiring call handed the Pulse the ball when they looked to have turned it over – before the Mystics pulled one back, which left them trailing by one at halftime.
The two teams went goal for goal to begin the third quarter,
neither wanting to give an inch, but it was the Pulse that went into the final quarter leading by two, after Tiana Metuarau, on for Dunn, sank a shot as time expired.
Two minutes in, the Pulse went up by three – the largest lead either team had had since midway through the second quarter – then, after first turning the ball over, by four, a margin which left the Mystics needing to rally.
With four minutes remaining, the lead had stayed steady at four, then all of a sudden it was six and the game was gone, and the Mystics couldn’t even take home a bonus point.
They are back in action on Friday, when they face the Mainland Tactix at Auckland Netball Centre, while the Pulse have a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader there against the Southern Steel and Magic. The Magic are in action again on Monday, against the Northern Stars, to close out the round.