Steel set record low in loss

The Northern Mystics will be hard to stop if the first match of the new season is anything to go by. Denied a shot at the ANZ

Premiership title in last year’s elimination final, the hosts hammered the hapless Southern Steel 64-38 at Auckland’s Trusts Arena on Saturday night for an emphatic start to their campaign.

The Steel’s scorers were less prolific, with an accuracy no higher than 79%. They set a new record for their lowest number of goals scored in an ANZ Premiership match. Their previous record was 40 goals.

Even with Silver Fern Sam Winders as a new addition at wing attack, the gulf between the two sides was enormous.

The Steel have lost star shooter George Fisher for the year because of her serious knee injury.

Meanwhile teenager Amelia Walmsley announced herself as a future shooting star as the Central Pulse opened their title defence with a thrilling onegoal win.

In her first ANZ Premiership start, the 19-year-old, the daughter of former Black Caps pace bowler Kerry Walmsley, dazzled with 36 goals from 39 attempts. Walmsley helped paved the way for the Pulse in their nailbiting 53-52 victory over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. .