REIGNING ANZ Premiership champions Northern Mystics have maintained top spot on the 2022 ladder after taking care of Southern Steel in a top of the table clash today. The Mystics moved to an impressive 4-1 record from the first month of action, and have seven more points in the bank compared to their second placed opposition, albeit having played an extra game. Winning the first three quarters to open up a 13-goal advantage at the final break, the Mystics rested players in the final quarter which allowed the Steel to cut back into the final deficit by five. It mattered little in the end though, with the Mystics getting up 67-59.

The home Mystics started the match strongly, getting out to an early two-goal lead and managing to hold it for the most part, with Grace Nweke (13 goals from 13 attempts) and Monica Falkner (three from four) putting up some impressive efforts. Despite the Steel having 55 per cent of the possesion in the first term, and picking up three gains and two intercepts to just one gain, the shooting was off, with Georgia Heffernan (four from seven) eventually replaced by Jessica Allan (none from one) in goal attack late, with George Fisher‘s 11 from 12 holding up the side’s scoring. Kate Heffernan (four goal assists, two intercepts) and Tayla Earle (nine goal assists from 10 feeds) were having a huge battle in the centre, but it was Earle’s Mystics who lead by one goal, 16-15.

Georgia Heffernan returned to the court to start quarter two, with the Mystics not making a change until midway through the second term, with Filda Vui coming on for Monica Falkner and providing that support to Nweke. Despite yet again having more time in possession (52 to 48), the Steel were loose with their ball use, committing seven turnovers to four, with Fisher’s three making it a counter-contrasting quarter where she shot at 100 per cent from her nine attempts. Earle took over in the centre role with a massive eight goal assist from 10 feeds to make it 17 from 20 at the half, and the Mystics blew the score right out to 35-27 after the first five goals of the term, and holding sway in a dominant performance.

Sarahpheinna Woulf had taken a break from goal defence later in the second term, but returned to court for the third term, whilst the Mystics took the time to rotate players, with Elisapeta Toeava and Fa’amu Ioane coming on in their respective wings, whilst Claire O’Brien and Phoenix Karaka had a rest, and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson shuffled back from wing defence to goal defence. Despite the changes, the Steel could not chew into the deficit, falling as much as 11 goals behind in the final five minutes, and Allan returned, but could not sway the momentum in goal attack. The Mystics brought on the impressive Carys Stythe as well as Karaka, with Sulu Fitzpatrick and Sokolich-Beatson all earning a rest. Nweke would end up scoring the last three goals of the term to extend the lead out to 13, 53-40.

Nweke put up 15 of 16 from the term before being subbed off at the final break, with the game well and truly in the Mystics’ clutches. Toeava and Earle were on top of the midcourt, whilst despite getting plenty of feeds into the circle (31), the Steel could only convert 12 into goal assists, and shoot 13 goals. By comparison, the Mystics shot 18 goals from 20 total feeds, 16 of which were goal assists. Midway through the quarter, the Mystics took off the likes of Karaka, Falkner and Ione to ensure every player had a nice break and they were able to test out combinations. Though the Steel came back, it would not be enough, with the Mystics saluting, 67-59.

Unsurprisingly Earle’s dominance in centre earned her Player of the Match with a whopping 30 goal assists from 40 feeds to really set up the likes of Nweke (45 goals from 46 attempts) and Vui (12 from 16). Falkner (eight from 11) also impressed, with Fitzpatrick (one intercept, two rebounds and only five penalties) standing up in defence. For the Steel, Fisher shot 47 goals from 50 attempts and pulled in six rebounds, whilst Kate Heffernan worked hard for a massive four intercepts to go with 15 goal assists. Georgia Heffernan put up 12 goals from 18 attempts.