Mystics dominate Pulse in strong defensive play

In an exciting start to Round Two of the ANZ Netball Championships, the defending champions, the Northern Mystics, showed their strength with a solid 59-48 win over Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in Auckland on Saturday.

Both teams completed round one unscathed, with the Mystics thrashing their neighbours, the Stars, 71-55, and the Pulse overcoming the Magic 57-44.

The Mystics’ victory yesterday was mainly due to their strong defence, which shone in the middle two quarters of the match.

While the Pulse kept up a good fight in the first and last quarters, they struggled to match the Mystics’ intensity throughout the game.

With 10 intercepts as a team, led by goalkeeper Catherine Hall, the Mystics disrupted the Pulse’s attacks, handing them a chance to focus on scoring.

The Mystics grew more confident as the game progressed, showing better accuracy in their shots and making the most of their opportunities on court.

Pulse shooter Ameila Walmsley performed well when she had chances to score, but couldn’t put enough pressure on the scoreboard due to fewer balls from her feeders.

There were no surprises in the teams’ lineups, which led to some thrilling match-ups on the court, especially the highly-anticipated battle between Mystics’ shooter and Australian Diamond and First Nations netball star Donnell Wallam and Pulse goalkeeper Kelly Jackson.

The Mystics suffered early setbacks following the departures of shooting star Grace Nweke to Australia, defender Phoenix Karaka welcoming her second child, and Carys Stythe's move south.

But Hall stood out on Saturday with her speed and awareness on the court.

The first quarter was tightly contested, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance.

Mystics’ wing attack and Sāmoan-born Elisapeta 'Peta' Toeava used her speed to navigate the court effectively, while Pulse stars Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness also made impactful plays.

After 15 minutes, the Pulse secured a narrow lead of 14-13.

In the second quarter, the Mystics took control, thanks to Wallam’s rebounding skills and Hall’s strong defensive efforts that disrupted the Pulse’s flow.

Mystics' shooter Donnell Wallam, the Australian Diamond and First Nations netball star, takes a shot as Pulse defenders Parris Mason and Kelly Jackson try and stop her. Looking on is Wallam's team-mate Filda Vui. Photo/Photosport

Despite some turnovers for the Pulse, their inability to keep the ball hindered their efforts to pressure the Mystics.

The combination of Toeava and Wallam remained effective, and the defending champions built a comfortable lead, finishing the second quarter with a 29-23 lead.

The Pulse tried to regroup in the third quarter but struggled with handling errors and could not maintain any momentum on attack.

While the Mystics kept most of their players on the court, the Pulse tried out different combinations to find a successful strategy against their Auckland rivals. Thanks to Amorangi Tapa’au Malesala, of Māori-Sāmoan heritage, the visitors managed to narrow the gap to six points.

But with Wallam and Sāmoan-born Filda Vui shooting superbly towards the end of the quarter, the Mystics extended their lead to 45-35, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Overall, the Mystics' night was one of strong defence and strategic plays, allowing them to maintain control of the game and secure a well-deserved victory.

The Pulse will now head home to regroup before they take on the Northern Stars next Saturday afternoon in Auckland, while the Mystics will face the Southern Steel on Monday, 26 May in Dunedin.

In other round two games, the Mainland Tactix from Christchurch are up against the Stars in Auckland this afternoon (Sunday), while the Steel play the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic tomorrow night (Monday) in Hamilton.