FIGHTING for a potential second spot on the ladder the Northern Mystics knew they had to play hard for a win against Central Pulse, and fight they did, in a season-defining match in Round 8 of the ANZ Premiership. The Mystics stood tall for their greatest win of the season so far, defeating Pulse by two goals (44-42) with a phenomenal final quarter effort doing the job after trailing at every change.

With Karin Burger having the upper hand in their last contest everything needed to go Peta Toeava’s way in the first quarter, with the quick feed into Grace Nweke critical if the Mystics were to get a win. Tayla Earle stepped up to take on some of the pressure on the assist, with the centre-wing attack interplay and speed on the feed crucial to ensure Claire Kersten and Burger were not able to set up. But where the Pulse had confidence shutting down the Mystics attack they had a bumpy start in their own offence, with the pressure from Sulu Fitzpatrick and Phoenix Karaka impactful from the get-go. The duo forced uncharacteristic misses at the post from Aliyah Dunn and Ameliaranne Ekenasio, though the amount of ball turned over by the Mystics was getting the job done and forcing messiness through the midcourt, seeing the Pulse maintain much of the upper hand.

The one on one between Nweke and Kelly Jury saw Nweke have much of the early control, pulling in a couple of tough lobs with Jury’s elevation on the leap giving her a great chance at turning over that ball but to no avail with sticky fingers from Nweke. Pulse’s ability to crowd the play was clear early, bunching up the Mystics to the corners of each third but Fitzpatrick’s phenomenal start ensured the Mystics were always on the case, winning ball back. With the crucial cog still Toeava, ball placement in attack was shaky early as the zippy wing attack gave away a couple easy penalties, allowing Burger to get a hand to a couple of loose balls and seeing the Pulse ahead by two at the first change.

The second quarter started with much the same intensity, with Asher Grapes rotated off for Filda Vui who was quick to have an impact dragging Katrina Rore away from the circle and forcing a one-on-one contest for Nweke. While the Pulse had the speed in attack the Mystics were able to work through a couple messy patches and turn over ball defensively to draw level.

Pulse were able to extend their lead with a couple impressive turnovers and impressive spots into the circle, though Karaka and Fitzpatrick fought back to create errors and inaccuracy within the circle. Ekenasio and Dunn still had control but were a bit shaky, with the Mystics defenders doing a wealth of work to confuse the space and trick the feeders. While ahead by three goals at half time, the Mystics were well and truly in with a chance, having challenged the Pulse and been in the contest for much of the first half.

Tiana Metuarau joined the fray in the third, with the super sub injected to bring some speed and doing just that in attack for the Pulse. The score extended for the Pulse with little movement happening in attack for the Mystics credit to Burger and Kersten keeping the attackers quiet and their hands over pressure paying dividends. With more space in attack and plenty of speed down court the Pulse were able to keep on top of any turnovers, working their way back and causing havoc through the midcourt.

Ekenasio was removed from the court briefly for the blood rule, with the Mystics immediately having an impact and taking advantage of the star player being off the court, though Metuarau was more than capable of holding up out the front too and allowed the Pulse to create a five goal buffer at the final change, leading 35-30.

While the Pulse still had much of the control they could not afford to take the foot off the accelerator in the last quarter, with the Mystics well and truly still in the contest and willing to fight down to the nitty-gritty. With a one-goal margin and under 10 on the clock the Pulse needed to put the foot down, but it was the Mystics that took control, forcing a change and Burger leaving the court, getting plenty of hand to ball but unable to consistently limit the efforts of Toeava.

With Nweke winning the battle inside the goal circle frustration was plain on Jury’s face, while Rore’s cleanliness reduced as the Mystics had nothing to lose and played like it. Clogging up the Pulse centre pass at every chance, the Mystics caused the ball to go across the goal line when aimed for Dunn, then able to transition well with speed down the court to draw even with just over five minutes on the clock. 

Needing to play the safe options down court, the work ethic from the Mystics was second to none with the side in an unprecedented position leading with minutes on the clock and unwilling to hand off a crucial lead after trailing early. With plenty of hustle and cautions flying around the court, a three goal lead was taken by the Mystics who were playing with confidence and building off the Pulse home crowd.

With 30 seconds on the clock the Mystics were still ahead but needed to maintain possession, running away with an excellent and critical two-goal victory, ending the Pulse’s 10 game winning streak in the 44-42 win.

Player of the match Nweke was influential as ever with ball in hand, shooting 38 goals at 86 per cent in a phenomenal outing, while Saviour Tui (four from four) and Vui (two from two) assisted around the circle. Toeava and Earle shared the feeding load with 19 and 17 assists respectively, while Karaka (five gains) and Fitzpatrick (three) both racked up two intercepts and just the 10 penalties apiece. Jury picked up two intercepts while both Rore and Dunn picked up one apiece, with Dunn shooting 21 goals from 23 attempts in a solid performance. Both Kersten and Burger tallied three deflections but none to advantage, while Ekenasio was down on her regular accuracy with 20 from 28 at an uncharacteristic 71 per cent. 

It was both teams’ sole outing for the round, with both taking the court twice next round against the same opposition on alternate days. Mystics are next up on Friday against Southern Steel before taking on Mainland Tactix on Sunday, while Pulse face the Steel on Saturday and Tactix on Monday in a blockbuster penultimate round.

>>> PULSE TEAM PAGE

>>> MYSTICS TEAM PAGE

>>> FULL MATCH STATS

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CENTRAL PULSE 10 | 13 | 12 | 7 (42)
NORTHERN MYSTICS 8 | 12 | 10 | 14 (44)

STARTING SEVEN

Pulse

GS: Aliyah Dunn
GA: Ameliaranne Ekenasio
WA: Maddy Gordon
C: Claire Kersten
WD: Karin Burger
GD: Katrina Rore
GK: Kelly Jury

Mystics 

GS: Grace Nweke
GA: Asher Grapes
WA: Peta Toeava
C: Tayla Earle
WD: Emily Burgess
GD: Phoenix Karaka
GK: Sulu Fitzpatrick