NORTHERN Mystics notched up their first win of the season defeating the Southern Steel by six goals 64-58 thanks to a much more composed and measured approach across the court. It was a fast start from the Mystics and they looked to keep their foot on the pedal throughout the contest, nullifying the quick ball movement the Steel played with in Round 1 to run away with the win.

Steel goaler, George Fisher wasted no time getting involved in the action sinking the first two goals for her side with the precision passing around circle edge paying dividends. The opening few minutes turned into somewhat of a battle of the goal shooters with Fisher steering the ship for the Steel and Grace Nweke commanding the ball under the post for the Mystics. The work of Peta Toeava early was evident with the wing attack using her classy footwork and speed to slice through the oppositions defence. A goal for goal battle ensued with neither side able to break away in the first five minutes of play.

The end to end work from both the Steel and Mystics was impressive as both sides executed at a relatively high rate before the latter turned the afterburners well and truly on. A bullet pass from Toeava into Nweke sent tongues wagging with the duos partnership starting to spark concerns for the young Steel defensive unit. As the quarter went on Bailey Mes got more involved in the action, commanding the ball both in and out of the circle to set up multiple attacking forays. The Mystics really started to rally across the court going on a five-goal run thanks to a Kate Burley inspired intercept and a conversion off the centre pass as they pushed out to a six-goal lead. The fluidity in attack for the Mystics was causing real headaches for the Steel with both Te Huinga Selby-Rickit and Taneisha Fifita unable to quell the pace and dynamism of the opposition goalers, despite the latter getting hands to ball on a couple of crucial rebounds.

The second quarter continued much of the same with the precise ball movement inside the circle allowing the Steel with plenty of opportunities to add to the scoreboard. The Mystics once again went on a mini goal scoring spree with three in a row as Tayla Earle upped the ante in both attack and defence. The Steel were forced wide with Kate Heffernan and Shannon Saunders pushed to the pockets and unable to have their usual impact around circle edge. Fisher continued to be the staple inside the goal circle with Tiana Metuarau leaving a bit to be desired. The breakaway speed from the Mystics was wreaking havoc as they exploded out of the blocks on the turnover and kept their foot on the throat throughout the term as they suffocated the Steel’s movement.

Holding a handy nine goal lead the Mystics maintained their level of composure to keep pushing. Their defensive pressure was key as Fa’amu Ioane got busy with her hands over pressure and aerial capacity to challenge the high ball into the attacking third. She provided good support to Burley and Sulu Fitzpatrick in the goal circle as the Mystics looked to retain their buffer. But the overall attacking intensity from the Steel increased in the third quarter as Metuarau injected herself into the game with her dynamic movement and accuracy to post. the angles really started to open up for the Steel with Saunders and Heffernan finding more space and steadily eating into the margin to dwindle it down to seven after getting out to as much as 10 in the early stages of the term.

It got willing between Heffernan and Toeava despite the two not being directly opposed to one another as they traded blows to clog up space and stop the attacking drive to the top of the circle. the transitional play from the Mystics was something to behold as they sped down the court in three passes but the grit and determination of the young Steel side came to the fore as they contested each and every pass. With the Steel starting to mount pressure in attack the Mystics rung in the defensive changes with Ama Agbeze making her way onto the court and shuffling Fitzpatrick out into goal defence to nullify the playmaking skills of Metuarau.

Sensing their first win of the season the Mystics continued to capitalise on their opportunities. their innate connections across the court and ability to withstand the pressure stemming from the Steel was impressive. With the lead getting back out to seven goals it was the Steel’s turn to make the changes as Heffernan slotted into wing defence, Saunders into centre and Ali Wilshier came on in wing attack in hope to provide that spark while Sarahpheinna Woulf pulled on the goal keeper bib. But the tried and tested combinations of the Mystics did not falter as they ran out comfortable winners.

It was a shooting masterclass from Fisher who walked away with an unblemished record, nailing 42 goals straight as Metuarau lent a helping hand with 16 goals from 21 attempts at 76 per cent. Nweke was a strong presence under the post for Mystics with 56 from 60 at 93 per cent as she shouldered the load given Mes only slotted eight goals. Toeava was a master with ball in hand racking up 31 feeds while Heffernan topped the table for goal assists with 17 for the Steel while also picking up three deflections. In defence, Fitzpatrick was strong with three deflections.

NORTHERN MYSTICS 19 | 17 | 12 | 16 (64)
SOUTHERN STEEL 11 | 16 | 14 | 17 (58)

Mystics:

GS: Grace Nweke
GA: Bailey Mes
WA: Peta Toeava
C: Tayla Earle
WD: Fa’amu Ioane
GD: Kate Burley
GK: Sulu Fitzpatrick

Steel:

GS: George Fisher
GA: Tiana Metuarau
WA: Shannon Saunders
C: Kate Heffernan
WD: Renee Savai’inaea
GD: Te Huinga Selby-Rickit
GK: Taneisha Fifita