In her first start for the Pulse, injury replacement shooter Martina Salmon had a game to savour after sinking 41 goals. Photo: PhotoWellington
Shaking off their injury-stricken status, the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse machine has delivered a sixth straight win to hold their top spot on the ANZ Premiership ladder.
Missing three of their regular campaigners, the Pulse dug deep to hold out a fast-finishing Stars for a 58-52 victory in Wellington.
``That was an ``organisation’’ win all the way from our development where a great job is being done with the Manawa players of getting them ready to perform at this level when needed and that showed tonight,’’ Pulse coach Anna Andrews-Tasola said.
``I’m just really happy for everybody who’s involved in our organisation. We knew that everybody had to do their job tonight, so we used their strengths and played to their strengths, and it worked for us.’’
From the opening whistles they looked in control – despite a late push from the Stars – led by two of their most experienced heads in wing attack Whitney Souness, who was in commanding form to assist an inexperienced shooting circle, and captain Kelly Jackson.
But it was also newcomer Martina Salmon, making her first start in the ANZ Premiership, who stood up for the side netting 41 goals after coming in this week to replace an injured Amelia Walmsley who is out of play for up to eight weeks.
Walmsley (knee) is the Pulse’s third significant injury blow of the season as they started today’s game without Tiana Metuarau and Maddy Gordon.
Few would have predicted the look of this Pulse frontline six rounds into the league with Salmon drafted into the side as shooter and Kiana Pelasio taking on the goal attack role while Claire Kersten was back in the centre bib.
Celebrating her 100th national league game in charge, Stars coach Kiri Wills went for the same line which finished strongly against the Mystics last week.
The last time the two teams met, the Pulse had the stronger start to hold on for a seven-goal win but nobody knew how the hosts would fare with such a new-look to their attacking unit for the Round 6 clash. Salmon, who has already suited up for the Steel this season as injury cover, netted her first goal in Pulse colours to get the full house at TSB Arena behind the team.
Souness had little trouble finding the strong hold of Salmon as the hosts opened up a two-goal advantage after five minutes of play.
The visitors, who may have given themselves a better chance of toppling the injury-stricken Pulse, found themselves on the backfoot with defender Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa suspended for two minutes for dangerous play.
But the Stars were measured in their response and levelled the scores with shooters Maia Wilson and Monica Falkner sharing the load.
There were more changes with Kersten heading to the sidelines for a concussion check which saw Fa’amu Ioane picking up the centre bib and Kelea Iongi on in defence.
Instead of disrupting their flow, the Pulse went on a five-goal run to again edge ahead and with Salmon netting 16 goals went to the break with an 18-14 lead.
Wills made some positional changes heading into the second spell with Rahni Samason moving to shooter and Wilson to goal attack while Lili Tokaduadua came on to goalkeeper.
It did little to stop the Pulse juggernaut as the goals just kept coming.
Kersten was given clearance to return to court as the hosts opened up a 10-goal buffer and the Stars looked for more answers from the bench as Emma Thompson made her first appearance in the purple dress, coming on at wing attack.
Reverting back to their original shooting circle, the Stars’ patience was again key as they closed the gap to five before slipping to trail 27-34 at the main break.
Souness was immense in the opening half, ensuring her new shooting circle received quality, stress-free ball and had 12 goal assists in 30 minutes of play while Jackson and Parris Mason had snaffled seven gains between them.
But with just eight goals between them, the Stars were always within reach of the hosts with defender Kate Burley (five gains) doing her best to keep her team in the race.
The energy – no matter the combination – and hunger for ball from the Pulse ensured they nailed the third spell on the scoreboard, turning into the last spell leading 49-38.
Shooting stats
Pulse:
Martina Salmon 41/45 (91%)
Khiarna Williams 11/12 (92%)
Kiana Pelasio 6/9 (67%)
Stars:
Maia Wilson 35/40 (88%)
Monica Falkner 14/18 (78%)
Rahni Samason 3/6 (50%)
ANZ Fans' Player of the Match: Martina Salmon (Pulse)