Pulse falter in final quarter

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post

NO PULSE: In the words of a famous Kiwi sports commentator, it was deja vu all over again for the Central Pulse, losing its seventh successive match in the ANZ Championships last night.

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In the words of a famous Kiwi sports commentator, it was deja vu all over again for the Central Pulse at the TSB Bank Arena last night.

The Wellington-based netball team threw away a six-goal lead midway through the third quarter before eventually losing its seventh successive match in the ANZ Championship, 54-48 to the Northern Mystics.

Leading 40-34 and seemingly in control against the struggling Northern Mystics, turnovers and missed shots down the stretch conspired to hand the Central Pulse yet another loss in a match they could have, and should have, won.

In fact, the nearly team of the competition must be wondering when, or even if, their first win is going to come after losing their previous two home matches in overtime.

The difference between the two teams was again experience and composure under pressure.

Yvonne Willering's Mystics, despite having scored only one win before last night, have internationals throughout the court and led by former Silver Fern Temepara George, they steamrolled home, dominating the last 20 minutes by 20-8, to leave the Pulse, and their 2500-odd fans, with few answers.

"For the majority of the the game our attacking end held up well but we just couldn't keep up with them for 60 minutes," a visibly disappointed Pulse captain Frances Solia said.

"It's so disappointing. I've got nothing to say really, the girls are pretty gutted and I don't really know what happened."

After starting last week's match well - the first time this season - the Pulse reverted to form in the opening quarter, finding themselves trailing 6-1 inside four minutes.

They were forced to play catch-up, a task made that much more difficult by the experienced Mystics' midcourt, which regularly found its shooters with relative ease.

There was a stark contrast at the other end of the court, however, with the Pulse struggling to penetrate the Mystics defence with any pace, a point highlighted by three held balls in the first quarter.

Trailing 13-9 after 15 minutes, the Pulse rallied in the second quarter, which they won 16-15.

Shooters Susan Tagicakibau and Jamilah Gupwell, in particular, found their range, Solia and Lauren Burgess discovered more space in midcourt and, most crucially, the defensive trio of Sonia Mkoloma, Kahurangi Waititi and Cushla Lichtwark asserted some dominance, forcing the northerners into several turnovers and the third quarter was won 16-10.

But their dominance could only last for so long, however, as George and Paula Griffin took control of the clutch moments in the final quarter to help the Mystics to only their second victory of the campaign.

- © Fairfax NZ News