The Pulse with their special Maori-worded bibs ahead of their season-opener against the Mystics. Photo: Jo Holmes
February 24, 2019
A ruthless Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse set the tone for their season after closing out the opening round of Super Sunday with a storming 62-39 win over the Northern Mystics in Hamilton on Sunday.
The hapless Mystics were left stunned by a completely dominant team effort from the Pulse, each player doing their bit to deliver an impressive start to the season.
`We got off to a great start and kept building and building but it wasn’t quite a full four-quarter performance,’’ Pulse captain Katrina Rore said afterwards. ``In that last quarter we let the Mystics come back in but we’ll definitely take that as a first round win.
``The speed on attack was really pleasing to watch and on defence, particularly in the first half, we worked pretty well as a unit.’’
Showing the benefits of having a settled line-up, last year’s runners-up showed their intent from the outset, the Pulse clicking into top gear from the opening pass to turn on an opening quarter masterclass.
The Pulse dominated across all areas of the court, gaining ascendancy through the midcourt with the slick transition and movement provided by Claire Kersten and Whitney Souness. Shooters Aliyah Dunn and Ameliaranne Ekenasio received a steady stream of ball as the pair made a telling impact on the scoreboard.
At the other end, the Pulse defence line made life difficult for the new-look Mystics shooting end, the back three of Karin Burger, Katrina Rore and Sulu Fitzpatrick restricting their opponents scoring options with a forceful presence.
The Pulse onslaught was relentless, their urgency, speed and precision forging a telling 19-8 lead at the first break.
Getting away to a good start on the resumption, there was an air of optimism for the Mystics but it was short-lived. Despite the best efforts of defender Michaela Sokoloich-Beatson, who tirelessly threw herself into everything, normal service was quickly resumed as the Pulse continued to apply the blow torch.
Good moments were few and far between for the Mystics as the Pulse maintained their intensity levels when skipping into halftime well in control when leading 37-19.
With a reshuffled line-up, the Mystics proved more competitive during the third term but they still struggled with a lack of understanding between their budding connections and combinations. The Pulse’s defensive trio continued to pick up a bounty of turnover ball as the team in yellow and black showed no signs of easing off.
Ekenasio was given a spell late in the third stanza, the Pulse dipping into their exceptional well of talent when the teenaged Tiana Metuarau was injected into the contest. The Pulse hit the half-century mark on the stroke of three-quarter time when taking a 50-26 lead into the run home.
The Mystics produced a spirited closing quarter but the damage had been done, rising young midcourt and defensive talents Maddy Gordon and Elle Temu enjoying their first taste at this level for the Pulse in the dying minutes.
Further embracing their commitment to promoting Te Reo, and in partnership with Te Wānanga o Raukawa, the Pulse’s seven playing bibs were each adorned with a Maori word in today’s opening round match.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa and the Pulse are working together in exploring the use of Te Reo in a mainstream environment and, in particular, how promoting the use of the language through netball has the potential to increase awareness, learning, acceptance and the use of Te Reo by netball people and the wider New Zealand community.
The seven words that featured on the bibs, starting at goalshoot and working through the team, were: Ako (learn), Whakarongo (listen), Waiata (sing), Pānui (read), Tuhi (write), Kōrero (talk), Titiro (look).
Shooting Stats
Pulse:
Aliyah Dunn 37/40 (93%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio 22/29 (76%)
Tiana Metuarau 3/5 (60%)
Mystics:
Kristina Brice 18/21 (86%)
Bailey Mes 15/24 (63%)
Jamie Hume 6/9 (67%)
MVP: Claire Kersten (Pulse)