Mystics maintain lead
The Northern Mystics have consolidated their position at the top of the transtasman league’s New Zealand conference. But they have a lot more work to do to consolidate their game plan.
The Mystics overcame the Central Pulse in the battle of New Zealand’s two heavyweight sides in Auckland last night, but were largely unconvincing in their execution as they trailed the visitors at every change of ends. It was only a 17-10 final quarter romp that got the Mystics over the line, with the crafty Pulse dictating the game for much of the opening three spells.
For a clash that had been billed as showdown between New Zealand’s two premier sides, the match failed to live up to that standard. Both sides would have been unhappy with their turnover count, particularly in their shooting circles, while the match also seemed to lack for spectacular defensive plays.
The dour affair was not helped by some overly officious umpiring, with Jono Bredin and Fay Meiklejohn taking a lot of pace out of the game with constant whistle.
The two sides, who between them have 11 current Silver Ferns and two English internationals, are still expected to be fighting it out for the Mystics 49 Pulse 44 top spot in the New Zealand conference by the end of the season. But they each have a lot of work to do to build into some convincing form.
Buoyed by a couple of early defensive stops, including a Maria Tutaia intercept, the Mystics made a fast start, taking an 8-3 lead on the back of some slick work in the attack end.
But the Mystics’ confident start soon turned to overconfidence as the home side were guilty of trying to be a bit too clever on attack, opting for the low percentage plays too many times.
The high-risk strategy cost the home side the lead as the Pulse settled late in the quarter after taking a strategic time-out, turning a six-goal deficit mid-way through the period into 13-12 lead at the first break.
The Pulse continued to dictate the pace of the game for much of the second spell, with shooters Jodi Brown and Ameliaranne Wells doing a good job of keeping the defenders guessing.
The Mystics began to make their move through the middle stages of the third period as the halftime injection of Temalisi Fakahokotau brought the defensive end to life after a quiet second period. Fakahokotau, who matched up on shooting veteran Irene van Dyk in the third spell, proved very disruptive in the defensive end, coming up with a couple of athletic deflections and one particu- larly impressive intercept.
The Mystics still trailed the Pulse 34-32 at the final turn, but they carried good momentum in to the final period, drawing level at 35-all two minutes into final spell, and in the following play took the lead for the first time since late in the first period.
They continued to extend out their lead, doing a much better job in the closing stages at scoring off their turnover ball.