Last weekend, we saw round 6 of the ANZ Premiership, and it was another great round of netball.
In the first game of the round, Mystics came out on top in a topsy-turvy battle of Auckland. Mystics led 15-11 at 1/4 time, before Stars fought back and won the next two quarters to lead at 3/4 time. But Mystics dominated possession in the final quarter and claimed the win 51-47. Mystics then had to back up the following day against Pulse and they were very slow out of the blocks. Pulse totally dominated the first two quarters and led 27-13 at half time. From then on, they appeared to take the foot off the pedal slightly and made several positional changes. As a result, Mystics came storming back. 11 goals downd at 3/4 time, they sensationally closed to just four goals behind with two minutes left. Unfortunately, a crucial call went against shooter Grace Nweke meaning they didn’t take a bonus point from the game, but they will have gained some encouragement from their finish. The two games on Sunday were both thrillers, decided by just one goal. In the first of them, Tactix gave the Pulse all they could handle, and appeared on track for an upset victory. But when it came to the crunch in the final deciding moments, the defending champions lifted defensively and Tactix got nervous. Tactix goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit took a shot right on full time which would have drawn the game, but it was ruled to have gone through the goal after time was up. Unlucky! Then Steel got over the top of Magic in another nail-biter. Leading by 5 goals half way through the final quarter, Steel seemed headed for a comfortable win, before Magic made a spirited late comeback and fell just short. In the final match on Monday, Tactix gained some small compensation for their loss to Pulse, when they easily accounted for Steel 48-35. Round 7 begins tonight.
2020 ANZ PREMIERSHIP – Round 6
Northern Mystics 51 (15, 11, 12, 13) def Northern Stars 47 (11, 14, 14, 8)
Mystics
Nweke 36/45 (80%)
Tui 10/11 (91%)
Vui 5/6 (83%)
Team Total: 51/62 (82%)
Assists 40 (Toeava 22)
Gains 11 (Fitzpatrick 7)
Stars
Wilson 36/40 (90%)
Hume 11/15 (73%)
Team Total: 47/55 (86%)
Assists 45 (Reuela-Buchanan 21)
Gains 10 (Burley 5)
Points: Mystics 4, Stars 1
Player of the Match: Sulu Fitzpatrick (Mystics)
Central Pulse 44 (13, 14, 11, 6) def Northern Mystics 38 (5, 8, 14, 11)
Pulse
Dunn 24/29 (83%)
Ekenasio 14/19 (74%)
Metuarau 6/11 (55%)
Team Total: 44/59 (75%)
Assists 37 (Gordon 18)
Gains 11 (Burger 4)
Mystics
Nweke 37/39 (95%)
Tui 1/1 (100%)
Grapes 0/0
Team Total: 38/40 (95%)
Assists 37 (Iversen 13)
Gains 9 (Karaka, Earle 3)
Points: Pulse 4, Mystics 0
Player of the Match: Karin Burger (Pulse)
Central Pulse 33 (10, 9, 6, 8) def Mainland Tactix 32 (8, 10, 10, 4)
Pulse
Dunn 13/13 (100%)
Ekenasio 13/16 (81%)
Metuarau 7/11 (64%)
Team Total: 33/40 (83%)
Assists 31 (Gordon 15)
Gains 7 (Jury 3)
Tactix
Bird 24/28 (86%)
Selby-Rickit 8/11 (73%)
Team Total: 32/39 (82%)
Assists 31 (Selby-Rickit 16)
Gains 6 (Watson, Fakahokotau 3)
Points: Pulse 4, Tactix 1
Player of the Match: Jane Watson (Tactix)
Southern Steel 41 (9, 11, 11, 10) def Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 40 (10, 10, 7, 13)
Steel
McCollin 24/30 (80%)
Halpenny 9/9 (100%)
Pelasio 8/11 (73%)
Team Total: 41/50 (82%)
Assists 38 (Crampton 16)
Gains 9 (Saunders 3)
Magic
Latu-Meafou 22/24 (92%)
McPhee 10/14 (71%)
Williams 8/10 (80%)
Team Total: 40/48 (83%)
Assists 37 (Souness 17)
Gains 10 (Mikaere 7)
Points: Steel 4, Magic 1
Player of the Match: Shannon Saunders (Steel)
Mainland Tactix 48 (13, 15, 10, 10) def Southern Steel 35 (6, 8, 12, 9)
Tactix
Bird 32/34 (94%)
Selby-Rickit 10/12 (83%)
Prosser 5/6 (83%)
Glen 1/1 (100%)
Team Total: 48/53 (91%)
Assists 46 (Selby-Rickit 14)
Gains 14 (Fakahokotau 7)
Steel
McCollin 18/21 (86%)
Halpenny 17/23 (74%)
Pelasio 0/1 (0%)
Team Total: 35/45 (78%)
Assists 32 (Saunders 18)
Gains 9 (Fifita 3)
Points: Tactix 4, Steel 0
Player of the Match: Jane Watson (Tactix)
Table:
1 – Pulse . 32 points (Pld 8)
2 – Mystics . 21 points (Pld 8)
–
3 – Tactix . 20 points (Pld 9)
4 – Stars . 17 points (Pld 8)
5 – Magic . 10 points (Pld 8)
6 – Steel . 10 points (Pld 9)
Upcoming matches:
(NZ times)
7pm, FRI 24 JUL – Pulse v Magic
5pm, SAT 25 JUL – Pulse v Stars
5pm, SUN 26 JUL – Tactix v Stars
7pm, SUN 26 JUL – Steel v Mystics
7pm, MON 27 JUL – Mystics v Magic