25th time lucky: Pulse win at last

BY PENNY MILES

With Jonah Lomu in the crowd, the unbelievable happened last night, and the Pulse finally won a game.

After 13 winless rounds last year, and another 11 losses this year, the Pulse beat the NSW Swifts 53-52 in a dramatic ANZ Championship match in Porirua last night.

Pulse import Althea Byfield gave her best performance of the season at Te Rauparaha Arena, as the raucous crowd was on its feet to celebrate the unexpected win.

The Swifts, after all, had the powerful Australian shooting duo of Catherine Cox and Susan Pratley to guide them, while the Pulse had only rookie shooters Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and Silver Fern Paula Griffin.

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie was smiling courtside after the game, as the Pulse players were jubilant in their celebrations.

The Jamaican defender Byfield was the difference in the tense last quarter.

Back from a layoff with concussion, Byfield grabbed crucial rebounds and intercepts as the Pulse extended their lead to four goals midway through the last quarter.

Pulse captain Cushla Lichtwark calmed her players with another intercept late in the match and astute feeding of the ball.

The Swifts also played their part, with Cox and Pratley uncharacteristically missing shots and being called for held ball.

The Swifts came to within one goal but Amaru-Tibble, who had a brilliant game, extended the Pulse's lead to 52-50. Pratley answered with a cool long shot for 52-51 with 60 seconds left.

But the Pulse held on for a long, long-awaited win.

Earlier in the match, the Pulse had mounted a determined fightback to trail only 28-27 at halftime.

They dominated a scrappy third quarter to gain the lead with five minutes to go, but the Swifts rallied back to tie the match 41-41 at three quarter time.

Internationals Byfield and Cox had an intriguing battle in their first meeting, both keen to impose their dominance.

Both put their bodies on the line as they landed entangled on the floor after one struggle for possession in the first quarter. Byfield hassled Australian captain Cox for important rebounds and intercepts but Cox slotted effortless long-range goals throughout.

Byfield produced her best game of the season against Cox, but all the Pulse starting seven played with confidence.

Swifts centre Kimberley Green used her speed and picked up any loose ball, but Pulse centre Camilla Lees held her own.

Swifts defenders Rebecca Bulley and Kimberley Smith tightened their defence in the second quarter after a loose first quarter against Griffin and Amaru-Tibble.

Swifts wing defence Samantha May was rugged against Pulse wing attack Ngarama Milner-Olsen, especially in the second quarter.

Pulse shooters Amaru-Tibble and Griffin made a strong start with accurate long-range shooting, Amaru-Tibble controlling the early flow of possession.

Pulse defender Hannah Broederlow replaced Bessie Manu at goal defence in the second half, but Manu returned in the last quarter.

Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald brought on defender Jessica Mansell at goal keep in the last quarter in an attempt to contain Amaru-Tibble.

- © Fairfax NZ News