Pulse win sees Tactix in playoffs
A loss in their final regular season game has brought the curtain down on captain Anna Harrison’s lengthy netball career and seen the Northern Mystics drop out of the ANZ Premiership playoff race.
The Mystics had to beat the Central Pulse at TSB Arena last night to progress to the preliminary final. However, the 55-48 defeat at the hands of the top qualifiers spelled a premature end to their season.
Instead, it is the Mainland Tactix who will travel to Invercargill for next Wednesday’s match against the Southern Steel, to determine who will face the Pulse in the competition decider four days later.
Harrison used her final appearance on the netball court to show off yet another innovative defensive move, leaping off the thighs of team-mate Phoenix Karaka in order to shutdown the Pulse attack.
But as eye-catching as her new tricks were, it was not enough to slow the Pulse, who wheeled out a full-strength starting seven, even with their place in the final already guaranteed.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie handed a second straight start to Silver Fern Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who impressed with 30/37 shooting and now looks a strong chance to start against either the Steel or Tactix.
But the Pulse will be sweating on the fitness of in-form wing defence Karin Burger, who was forced from the court after spraining an ankle in a collision with Elispeta Toeava in the second quarter.
The Pulse took the opening quarter 18-13 and despite losing Burger, went on to extend their advantage in each of the next two periods (31-24 and 44-36) before the Mystics closed the gap in the fourth.
The Pulse will now rest up ahead of the final, on August 12.