Battling Stars nail three-goal local derby win

Top spot in the ANZ Premiership may be out of reach for the Northern Stars this season but being crowned the top Auckland franchise is not.

Fresh off a resounding victory over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic last week, the Stars followed up by beating the Northern Mystics 58-55 at Auckland’s Trusts Arena yesterday.

Banking two points while overtaking their local rivals on the premiership ladder, the Stars also kept alive their chances of claiming the Northern Challenge trophy.

The Northern Challenge — a trophy contested between the Mystics and Stars — now stands at 1-1, with the winner to be decided at the final fixture between the sides in Super Sunday’s round 12 this month.

The Stars’ ability to convert turnovers helped them to an early lead and despite having the league’s worst defensive record, conceding almost 60 goals a game on average, up-andcoming Stars defender Kate Burley led her side strongly.

With the international experience of import Ama Agbeze and captain Grace Kara, the Stars caused early problems for Mystics shooters Bailey Mes and Jamie Hume.

Stars shooter Maia Wilson was unfazed by the long reach of Mystics defender Phoenix Karaka, notching 14 goals in the opening stanza.

But in losing their tenacious midcourter Fa’amu Ioane, who suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in the second quarter, the Stars suffered a brief lapse in their flow.

Experienced Anna Thompson picked up the load at centre and the Stars held tightly to their narrow advantage. A below-average shooting percentage, 84 per cent, from Mes didn’t help the Mystics’ cause.

The Stars led by two at halftime and took a six-goal lead into the final quarter and, with Kara leading with direction and vision, were good enough to stay in front.

The Magic play the Southern Steel tonight in Hamilton but will probably be without injured captain Casey Kopua.