Mystics 61
Pulse 60
The Northern Mystics last night came embarrassingly close to being just the second side to lose to the Central Pulse in the history of the transtasman league, scraping through with a narrow one-goal overtime win.
The result boosts the Auckland side into equal fourth position on the ladder, but there was to be no celebrating in the Mystics camp, for they will be acutely aware their performance was not one befitting a top-four team.
After leading by nine goals mid-way through the second period, the Mystics capitulated in the second half as the gritty Pulse side hassled and harried their attack into submission.
The Pulse took the lead for the first time early in the final period, extending that advantage to five goals with seven minutes remaining. Sensing their play-off hopes slipping away, the Mystics launched a desperate comeback, and had a chance of winning the match in regular time had it not been for a missed shot at goal from Maria Tutaia in the dying seconds.
With the score level at 51-all at the end of regular time, the Mystics still looked shaky in the tense two seven-minute periods of extra time, but managed to scrape through for an unconvincing win.
With a bye this weekend before they relaunch into transtasman battles, the Mystics needed a strong and cohesive performance to set themselves up well for a late run at a play-offs position.
They started with just that intent, playing at length on attack and taking the opportunity to run a number of set plays.
But things began to unravel for the home side late in the second spell, as the Pulse rediscovered their backbone after an awful start. The Wellington-based side did an impressive job of pressuring Mystics attacking lynch-pin Temepara George and from there they struggled to find any flow.
Trailing by just one goal heading into the final period, the Pulse played like a side with nothing to lose and soon held a five-goal lead. But if any side know how to relinquish a healthy advantage, it's the Pulse, and the visitors allowed the Mystics back into the match to force extra time.
It took the visitors nearly five minutes before they could muster their first goal in the match as the Mystics defensive trio made an immediate impact.
It was only towards the end of the first period that the Pulse found some fight.
Leading 13-8 at the first break, the Mystics steamed ahead early in the second spell but the Pulse came back to trail 29-25 at halftime.
