Pulse ominous in opening win
The defending champion Central Pulse are going to take some stopping in 2020.
They overcame a stern challenge from an improved Mainland Tactix side, winning the ANZ Premiership season opener 53-41 in Blenheim yesterday.
The Tactix stuck with the Pulse for two-and-a-half quarters, but the class of the defending champions shone through when it counted, pulling away midway through the third quarter.
At halftime, the teams couldn’t be separated, locked at 22-22.
The second half was dominated by the Pulse, who outscored the Tactix 31-19 and took them away from what they were doing well in the first half.
Aliyah Dunn led the way in the Pulse shooting end, landing 35 of 38 after missing the Silver Ferns’ 2019 World Cup squad because of fitness issues.
Dunn stood up against the talented Tactix defensive circle, featuring skipper Jane Watson and the returning Temalisi Fakahokotau, who missed the entire 2019 season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
An always formidable Pulse side and healthy Tactix squad shaped as two of the pre-season title contenders. They delivered a hard-fought contest to launch the fourth edition of the ANZ Premiership.
The Pulse are defending champions for a reason and stepped up their play in the crunch moments of the third quarter.
They were able to gobble up turnover ball through Silver Ferns Katrina Rore and Karin Burger and turn them into goals, opening up a 38-31 buffer late in the term.
Careless mistakes and swarming through-court defence from the visitors hurt the Tactix with the Pulse finishing the quarter with a pivotal 7-1 run.
Offseason Pulse recruit, 22-cap Silver Fern Kelly Jury (who has shifted south from the Magic) got through two quarters in her return from shoulder surgery, playing the first and third quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, the Pulse netted four straight goals to leap out to a 19-17 advantage, but the Tactix were always within striking distance.
The Pulse signalled their intentions early, scoring the first
three goals of the match, flying out to a 6-2 lead.
It was a sloppy beginning from the Tactix, who were careless with the ball early on and struggled to drive through the midcourt and find their attackers.
Those connections quickly came together with the Tactix netting four goals in succession. They finished the opening term strongly, taking a 12-11 edge into the first-quarter break.
In yesterday’s late game, the Auckland sides played out a tense clash, which was anyone’s match early in the final quarter.
The Mystics, who finished bottom of the table last season, made a fine start to the game through
18-year-old shooting sensation Grace Nweke.
She put up 19 first quarter goals as the Mystics jumped out to a 20-16 first quarter lead.
In the early stages of the final quarter, the Stars drew level at
46-46, but that was as close as they would get.
The Mystics picked up a couple of crucial defensive turnovers and with Nweke converting, were able to keep their noses in front.