Kiwi teams ease to big wins
It all looked a little too easy for the New Zealand teams in the opening round of the Super Club netball competition in Nelson yesterday.
The Central Pulse, Northern Mystics and Southern Steel, as well as the New South Wales Institute of Sport, made light work of their opening matches - each winning by more than 20 goals.
In a completely one-sided affair, the Northern Mystics took the biggest win of the day, toppling Fijian side Marama Vou 92-43. Mystics shooter Tera-Maria Amani outscored the Fijian side by herself, sinking 62 of her 67 attempts, with the Mystics missing just seven shots.
The Steel also went past the 80-goals mark with a 81-37 win over South African side Gauteng Jaguars.
Earlier in the day, the Pulse cruised to a 65-41 win over the Celtic Flames.
A 21-8 second quarter provided the platform for the Pulse to run away with the win, propelling them to a 39-19 lead at halftime.
While the Welsh side managed to hold the Pulse to an even 14-14 third period, the New Zealand side were far too strong and came away with a 24-goal win.
Shooters Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and Catherine Tuivaiti were on fine form, while wing defence Karin Burger was making a nuisance of herself for the opposition, picking up four intercepts and deflecting six attempted passes in a player of the game performance.
The New South Wales side also had a great start to the competition, putting up 92 attempts at goal on their way to a 74-46 thrashing of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, with Kristina Brice converting on 33 of her 39.