It's back to the drawing board for the Pulse after being undone by the Mystics. Photo: PhotoWellington
Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse were left with plenty to ponder after being dismantled 59-48 by a more efficient and consistent Northern Mystics to kick off Round 2 in Auckland on Saturday.
Built on the back of a relentless defensive effort, the middle two quarters provided the difference for the defending champion Mystics after the Pulse competed on even terms through the first and last quarters.
With a team total of 10 intercepts, spearheaded by impressive goalkeeper Catherine Hall, the Mystics were able to get on the front foot while creating a disjointed effort from the Pulse’s attackers.
Getting the upper hand through the middle quarters, the Mystics grew in confidence and were overall more proficient with their accuracy through court and finishing under the hoop. With more ball in hand, the home side were able to consistently keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Shooter Ameila Walmsley was accurate under the Pulse hoop but with less opportunities couldn’t add scoreboard pressure while at the other end Kelly Jackson had her moments against the influential Donnell Wallam, the visitors unable to apply the same pressure as consistently as their opposites, who turned in a non-stop outing.
There were no surprises in either line-up which highlighted exciting match-ups across the court, and that was more than evident through a tight and absorbing opening quarter.
The much-anticipated match-up between 1.93m Mystics shooter Wallam and Pulse goalkeeper Jackson, a centimetre shorter, lived up to expectations. But there was equal intrigue at the other end where young home team goalkeeper Hall was in the thick of action through her closing speed and ability to anticipate play while going on to play a decisive hand.
Both sides produced some sizzling passages through the opening stanza, Mystics wing attack Peta Toeava slicing her way through court with her speed and deception to set up her circle while Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness were similarly effective for the Pulse.
There was nothing to separate the teams heading into the first break, neither having any luck with the two-point shot in the closing five minutes as the Pulse grabbed a tenuous 14-13 lead after 15 minutes.
A little off-target, Wallam compensated with her ability to grab rebounds as the Mystics wrested their way into the lead during a dominant second quarter.
The game quickly became a defensive battle. The Mystics back three of Hall, Holly Rae (nee Fowler) and captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson producing a swarming defensive effort to throw the Pulse off-stride while causing the visitors’ attacking end into error.
The rangy Jackson picked up some much-needed turnover ball for the Pulse but loose play continued to hinder the Pulse’s momentum.
With the connection between Toeava and Wallam continuing to pay dividends, the Mystics gained a handy buffer, Filda Vui nailing the first two-pointer of the match for the home side, which was closely mirrored by the Pulse’s Amorangi Malesala.
But on the back of four intercepts and three deflections from Hall, the Mystics finished an encouraging second spell with a 29-23 lead at the main break.
The Pulse made inroads during the third quarter, picking up extra ball on defence but were ultimately let down by loose passing and an inability to control their play on attack.
For the most part, the Mystics retained a similar on-court seven while the Pulse made multiple changes in a desperate bid to find some rhythm and flow in their through-court play.
Narrowing the gap to six was about as good as it got for the Pulse, Malesala offering a glimmer of hope when sinking a valuable two-pointer but with Wallam and Vui gaining maximums with the last two scoring opportunities of the quarter, the Mystics shot out to a handy 45-35 lead at the last turn.