REIGNING premiers Northern Mystics are on the board in the 2022 ANZ Premiership season, following a six-goal win over Central Pulse yesterday. Both sides were level heading into half-time, but a Mystics shuffling of magnets and an unfortunate injury to a key Pulse defender saw the visitors secure the 66-60 victory.

Central Pulse entered the game as their first match for the season after their Round 1 clash was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the team’s camp, but they returned to the court to host the Mystics at Te Rauparaha Arena. The Mystics did get out on court in Round 1, but went down by three goals with several key players missing. Though still without a couple of players including Silver Ferns defender Phoenix Karaka, the reigning premiers did regain shooter Grace Nweke.

Her inclusion proved vital as she went on to win Player of the Match for her high-volume effort of 49 goals from 51 attempts and two rebounds. The Pulse actually started the stronger of the sides, racing to a 17-15 lead at quarter time, but the Mystics levelled the scores by the main break with a 15-13 second term. Erikana Pedersen proved crucial in the first half with 12 goal assists from 22 feeds, whilst Aliyah Dunn (23 goals from 25 attempts) did her best to try and cancel out Nweke’s first half of an identical 23 from 25.

After half-time, the Mystics came out with a different lineup as Michaela Sokolich-Beatson shuffled to wing defence and Carys Stythe came on in the defensive circle, pairing with Sulu Fitzpatrick. Tayla Earle moved from the wing to centre, whilst Claire O’Brien came off. The Pulse made the one change with Paris Lokotui come on for Jazz Scott, but after the Mystics started to gain momentum, the pair swapped late in the term. The visitors piled on 17 goals to 11 with Stythe particularly impressive against Tiana Metuarau, restricting the talented shooter to just two goals from three attempts and two goal assists.

The incredible shooting effort of 15 goals at 100 per cent from Nweke in the term was further compounded for the Pulse when recruit Kristiana Manu’a came off injured in the last minute of the term, replaced by Parris Mason at goal defence. Having scored nine of the last 12 goals in the second half of the third term, the Mystics headed into the final break with a six-goal lead.

The final term all but cemented the Mystics win, piling on a whopping six consecutive goals to start the quarter, with Nweke (four) and Monica Falkner (two) firing on all cylinders. With the score reading 53-41, the game was done and dusted. Though the Pulse managed to cut the deficit back to as little as five – scoring six out of seven goals nearing the final moments – the Mystics finished off with a goal to Filda Vui to put the icing on the 66-60 win.

Nweke won Player of the Match, but she had plenty of support, with midcourter Elisapeta Toeava on top in her head-to-head, picking up 31 goal assists from 44 feeds, and also an intercept. Falkner (11 goals from 16 attempts) supported Nweke in the shooting circle, whilst Stythe’s impact in the second half, and Earle’s move into the centre bib was key in turning the momentum.

For the Pulse, Dunn finished with 45 goals from 49 attempts, as Metuarau scored 15 from 19, and had 16 goal assists from 22 feeds. Pederson managed a team-high 23 goal assists from 36 feeds, whilst Whitney Souness (12 from 17) also did well in that regard.

Both sides will take to the court a second time in Round 2, with the Central Pulse hosting Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic this afternoon, and Northern Mystics heading to Invercargill to face the Southern Steel tomorrow night.