Stars stun Pulse in season opener
The new-look Northern Stars have made an emphatic start to the ANZ Premiership, beating the Central Pulse for the first time in their history.
Led by 44 goals from 50 attempts from first-time skipper Maia Wilson, the Stars overcame the two-time defending champions 57-53 in Palmerston North yesterday.
In the opening game of the 2021 competition, the Pulse and Stars played out a physical contest, where there were several tough battles for possession.
Never having beaten the Pulse in 12 previous attempts since their inception in 2017, the Stars will savour this win, but will know it is merely a start.
Fourth place finishers in 2020, the Stars were aggressive in offseason recruitment and laid down an early marker to their premiership rivals, knocking over the competition benchmark.
Their prized off-season signing, Silver Ferns wing attack Gina Crampton, made an immediate impact after joining the south Auckland side after nine years with the Steel.
Former Ferns defender Anna Harrison, who stepped out of retirement, was busy in her Stars debut, causing trouble for the Pulse attackers and picking up regular defensive ball.
The Pulse were without Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio yesterday, who is on medical leave for fatigue. There is no timetable on the star goal attack’s return and her absence is a blow in their attacking end.
Missing the inspirational Ekenasio, it was a gritty second half performance from the Pulse, who have a new coach this season with Gail Parata replacing Yvette McCausland-Durie.
Whether the Pulse can achieve a three-peat in 2021 is up for debate with former captain Katrina Rore (pregnancy) and Karin Burger (now at the Tactix) key losses from last year’s defensive end.
Trailing the entire game, the Pulse set up a frantic finish cutting the Stars’ lead to 51-48 with five to play. They had their chances in the closing minutes, but couldn’t stop the Stars when it counted.
Down 30-26 at halftime, the Pulse came out firing to start the second half, cutting into the deficit with a 7-4 burst.
Having struggled to find their attacking connections in the first half, the Pulse showed greater cohesion sending the ball through court.
Defensively, Pulse midcourters Maddy Gordon and Claire Kersten were able to slow the flow of ball into Wilson while also picking up turnover ball as a
team.
The Stars were able to absorb any mini runs from the Pulse though and went to the third quarter break well-placed for a first-up victory, ahead 45-39.
It was some start for the Stars, who silenced the home crowd early, flying out to a 5-1 lead.
The Stars were able to move the ball quickly through Crampton and centre Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and get it smoothly into the hands of shooters Wilson and Jamie Hume.
By the end of the first quarter, the Stars had built a 20-12 lead, just the kind of start coach Kiri Wills would have wanted.
The Pulse would have been disappointed with their throughcourt defensive pressure, failing to keep the Stars’ feeders off the circle edge.
Wilson put up 16 goals from 17 attempts in the first quarter alone in a dominant display.
After a sloppy first quarter, the Pulse came out strongly, scoring four unanswered goals to start the second term.
The Stars were able to absorb the pressure and led by seven goals late in the first half. A late flourish from the Pulse kept themselves in the fight at the halftime break, trailing by four (30-26).
Next up for the Stars is a mouth-watering clash against title favourites the Tactix at Auckland’s Pulman Arena next Sunday. The Pulse travel to Hamilton to face Australian goal shoot Caitlin Bassett and the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on the same day.