Pulse beat struggling Magic
It wasn’t pretty, but the Central Pulse beat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic last night 43-37.
The Pulse’s second win of the season came in what was believed to be the lowest-scoring match in the ANZ Premiership netball competition’s history.
The battle of the defences meant spectators at Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre saw little ball go through the net, but the Pulse are already the team to beat this season, winning two from two and sitting second with a game in hand on the table-topping Southern Steel.
Apart from the odd turnover, and a star turn from the Magic’s Casey Kopua in the defensive circle, the match lacked any real excitement.
The Pulse were miles ahead of a tired-looking Magic, making turnovers commonplace and the Magic searching for answers. They had none.
An honest Kopua after the match said they were never in it.
‘‘I think it was [over] at the start to to be honest, we need the ball in order to win . . . when we lose the ball it is just another opportunity for them.’’
After initially ending the first quarter level at 9-9, the Magic were playing catch-up for the rest of the match, with the deficit kept down due to the experience of defenders Kelly Jury and Kopua.
Kopua put Pulse goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio off her shooting game, slotting only 18 from 26, the only concern for the visitors. Goal shoot Aliyah Dunn however was faultless, making 25 of her 26 attempts. Dunn’s job was made easy through Pulse wing attack Whitney Souness, who provided the energy in the centre court, taking 21 feeds and contributing 12 goal assists.
Pulse defenders Sulu Fitzpatrick and Katrina Rore made it difficult throughout for Magic shooters Monica Falkner (16/21) and Abigail Latu-Meafou (12/15).
Rore was happy with the team’s performance, attributing a strong defensive effort.
‘‘We have been working on our full court D, that was great for us. Getting those shots through over those arms [Kopua and Jury] it worked out good,’’ she said.
Rore said her side already has one eye on the finals.
‘‘If we weren’t confident we wouldn’t do it.’’