Magic falter in first round
Write off the Southern Steel at your peril.
Last year’s inaugural ANZ Premiership champions delivered an ominous statement in the season-opening round in Palmerston North yesterday, thumping the Northern Mystics 55-47.
Any questions about the Steel’s effectiveness, having lost star Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler and leading defender Jane Watson over the off-season, were quickly banished.
The Central Pulse, last season’s runners-up, made a perfect start, overcoming the injuryravaged Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 45-33.
Missing South African import Lenize Potgieter, sidelined with an ankle injury that kept her out of the Commonwealth Games, the Magic battled in the shooting circle, converting just 72 per cent of their attempts. Sparked by Silver Ferns skipper Katrina Grant, the Pulse’s defensive end caused frequent problems for the Magic, who were restricted to a meagre
33 goals.
In the first match, rising shooting talent Jennifer O’Connell led the way for the Steel against the Mystics. She landed
20/23 in a composed first-half performance, before she was replaced at halftime.
With the Steel backing up against the Pulse tonight, the southerners clearly wanted to keep O’Connell fresh.
O’Connell is an intriguing prospect with her 1.93m height, and the 20-year-old will be a name worth keeping tabs on this season, given the Silver Ferns’ issues in the shooting end.
She got the better of the Mystics’ much-heralded defensive unit of veteran skipper Anna Harrison and Silver Ferns Phoenix Karaka and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson.
Te Paea Selby-Rickit shrugged off her patchy play at the Commonwealth Games, slotting 35/46 for the Steel, while also hauling in three rebounds.
It was a bumbling first-up showing from the Mystics, who were without Silver Ferns shooting standout Maria Folau. The Ferns centurion is only expected to be available in a limited capacity for the Mystics this season, and the Aucklanders will miss her class and experience.
Mystics shooter Bailey Mes, fresh off a forgettable Commonwealth Games, had a poor outing, converting just 14/27.