Pulse edge Mystics in tight pre-season clash

Pulse edge Mystics in tight pre-season clash

The Central Pulse took another step up in their preparation with a hard-fought 71-70 win in the pre-season ANZ Championship netball outing against SKYCITY Mystics in New Plymouth on Sunday.

Slow out of the blocks, the Pulse replied strongly to produce a fast-paced and entertaining spectacle with an improved showing from their first outing, a 13-goal loss to Cold Power Magic last week. Two additional spells of 12 minutes each were added to the regular four 15-minute quarters today which featured numerous personnel and positional changes.

Pulse defender Phoenix Karaka didn’t play any part in the match, ruled out in a precautionary move after suffering a slight knee knock earlier in the week. Former Steel, Magic and Mystics ANZ Championship utility and New Plymouth local Jess Tuki was drafted in to the Pulse line-up for the day.

In an ironic twist, Tuki proved an inspiring figure, the lean-framed defender being instrumental in shutting down the threat of her former New Zealand 2.04m basketball team-mate Megan Craig who played a strong hand through the first quarter under the Mystics hoop.

``I was pleased with more aspects of our game today which provided an opportunity to try other stuff against different types of athletes,’’ Pulse coach Tanya Dearns said. ``And the physical nature that the Mystics bring is what we’re going to come up against more often so it was an opportunity to see how we went against that and try some more combinations.’’

The introduction of Tuki in the second quarter helped turn the tide the Pulse’s way, coinciding with import Jacinta Messer’s switch to wing defence. That was enough to provide the missing drive for the Pulse, who dazzled at times with their ball speed and momentum through court.

The play-making skills of Chelsea Locke (wing attack) ensured shooters Jodi Brown and Ameliaranne Wells received quality possession in prime shooting spots.

The long limbs of defender Anna Harrison, in her return to the elite level, combined with the Mystics bustling defence caused some issues. But once the Pulse found their feet on attack, there was plenty of slick interchange when moving the ball forward. Brown and Wells added the polish under the hoop as Pulse took control during the opening three-quarters.

Youngster Maia Wilson made a strong fist of her introduction at goal shoot for the Pulse in the third quarter with a solid and confident outing under the hoop while Tuki continued to impress at the other end.

Locke and her opponent, Mystics import Serena Guthrie, went toe-to-toe in a riveting contest to provide the individual highlight of the match while Silver Ferns wing defence Kayla Cullen looked quite at home playing centre/wing attack for the Mystics.

With heavyweight shooters Maria Tutaia and the recently married Cathrine Tuivaiti (nee Latu) shouldering the shooting responsibility in the run home, Mystics came right back into the game with a strong fourth quarter to keep the game tight.

Young Pulse brigade Samon Nathan, local girl Kate Wells and Blaze Leslie held their own through the closing stanzas to help the team retain a narrow edge in an exciting run to the line.

``These pre-season games are about chopping and changing and trying stuff and when we get settled on what our line-up’s going to be, you will see an improvement in consistency,’’ Dearns said.

The Pulse have their last hit-out before the start of the season at the ANZ Championship Pre Season Shootout in Sydney on March 18-20.
Scores:
First quarter: 14-9 (Mystics)
Second quarter: 26-20 (Pulse)
Third quarter: 38-32 (Pulse)
Fourth quarter: 50-49 (Mystics)
Fifth quarter: 60-59 (Pulse)
Fulltime: 71-70 (Pulse )

ENDS

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