DAY 2 of the ANZ Premiership preseason tournament played host to a number of enthralling clashes with the Northern Mystics and Northern Stars playing twice. All six sides tested out new combinations in preparation for the season proper with some strong connections already starting to form across the court.

Here are a couple of key headlines from each game:

Northern Mystics (56) defeated by Mainland Tactix (64)

Bailey Mes is fit and firing

• Returning from injury this season, Bailey Mes has already proven to be a key cog in attack for the Mystics with the goaler able to swing between goal shooter and goal attack. Her overall netball smarts to balance out the circle, composure with ball in hand and long range shooting makes her a real threat for the ever growing Mystics side.

Karin Burger is settling in nicely for the Tactix

• New to the Mainland Tactix this season, defender Karin Burger is steadily settling into the side using her defensive prowess to make life hard for opposition teams. her lean over the shot and growing connection with Jane Watson was evident throughout the match as they combatted the Mystics’ goalers.

Kimiora Poi is a mastermind through the centre

• The young zippy centre is a real barometer for the side and is able to dictate the play with her quick movement and deception. Kimiora Poi proved she can control proceedings with her netball IQ coming to the fore and ball handling skills equally as impressive, knowing when to release from range or work the ball closer to circle edge.

Mainland Tactix have another gear

• It was a relatively close game with both sides hovering around a two goal buffer for majority. But the final quarter was a whole other ball game as the Tactix kicked it up a gear using their stalwart connections across the court and surety on the pass to pile on the pressure and blow their lead out to an eight goal win.

Northern Stars (47) defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (27)

Stars boast versatile defensive unit

• With Anna Harrison coming out of retirement and the Northern Stars picking up Elle Temu they have developed one of the most versatile and exciting defensive units going round. Temu is a force to be reckoned with in goal keeper while Harrison can rotate through both goal keeper and goal defence not to mention Oceane Maihi who plied her trade out in wing defence. All three have the skillset to seamlessly transition through the backend and that created great versatility

Magic are still learning to can chase down a lead

• Having Caitlin Bassett under the post has been a huge coupe for the Magic and her presence has single-handedly changed the way in which the game is played. However Waikato Bay of Plenty are still ironing out kinks in their attacking armour when it comes to their ability to chase down a lead and play with any great fluidity.

Jamie Hume is ever-evolving

• It is not often that you see a former goal attack playing out in centre and that is exactly what Jamie Hume did in this match. Her attacking nous enabled her to release well weighted passes into the likes of Maia Wilson and Monica Falkner in the circle. she played with great composure and smarts to produce well executed passes while also covered the court well credit to her high level of endurance.

Precision passing galore

• There were plenty of players throughout the game that showcased their desire and intent to release pin point passes into the circle to open up the game. Sam Winders was one of them, with the midcourter unleashing precise long bombs into the circle

Northern Mystics (46) defeated Southern Steel (45)

Shooting options aplenty

• The Mystics have no shortage of goalers that are able to step up to the plate and control proceedings with all four strong candidates inside the circle. Grace Nweke is a consistent and dominant figure under the post while Saviour Tui, Filda Vui and Bailey Mes ooze versatility to rotate through that goal attack and goal shooter bib. Their accuracy and movement is another key factor with all four bringing a slightly different skillset but able to work cohesively across the court.

Peta Toeava is the playmaker for Mystics

• The highly talented wing attack, Peta Toeava is the real barometer for the Mystics able to dictate the flow in attack and often re-setting the play with her well timed drives and execution on the pass. Her cuts and drives opened up the court while her vision benefitted the goalers under the post.

Do not discount the Steel

• Despite being blown out of the water early the Southern Steel steadily worked their way back into the contest, grinding out the game and using their speed to dart around the court and create a handy lead for most of the game. Immense defensive pressure across the court stifled the Mystics as they worked in overdrive to limit opportunities and win ball back and apply scoreboard pressure, despite falling just short.

 Saunders and Selby-Rickit are crucial for Steel

• Sitting at opposite ends of the court Shannon Saunders and Te Huniga Selby-Rickit proved to be the key lynchpins for the Steel with their experience and level heads really coming to the fore through the midpart of the game. Their knowledge and leadership helped guide the young players around them and provided a sense of stability to the developing side.

Central Pulse (61) dEFEATED Northern Stars (53)

Pulse are not afraid to test out new positions

• Both Kelly Jury and Aliyah Dunn were pushed out of their comfort zones throughout this match with Jury getting another run out in goal defence and Dunn spending time out in goal attack. both are somewhat unfamiliar with that role but showed glimpses of magic to effectively ply their trade and continued to put in the hard yards.

Gina Crampton has been a great inclusion

• Crossing from Southern Steel, Gina Crampton has taken like a duck to water in her new colours hitting circle edge with great pace and precision. She is a calming presence in attack and adds another layer of class to an already slick attacking combo of Falkner and Wilson. Her quick hands and fancy footwork is second to none often opening up space with her impressive vision

Stars second phase defence is impressive

• The intensity and one-on-one player marking from the Stars is impressive with every player out on court doubling down on their opponent and working them into the ground. Their ability to clog up the space, congest the middle channel and employ strong hands over pressure made life incredibly hard for the Pulse to zip around the court and generate much continuity in their play.

Pulse still know how to win

• Pulse notched up their first win of the preseason tournament with a number of their key players through the midcourt such as Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon and Claire Kersten impressing to help negate the Stars’ influence. Their strength and connections allowed the defensive end and attacking unit to build upon their foundations and find a winning formula.