Netball: Mystics maintain lead

Laura Langman has control of the ball for the Mystics last night against the Pulse. Photo / Jason Dorday

Mystics 49
Pulse 44

The Northern Mystics have consolidated their position at the top of the transtasman league's New Zealand conference. But they have a lot more work to do to consolidate their gameplan.

The Mystics overcame the Central Pulse 49-44 in Auckland last night in what had been billed the battle of New Zealand's two heavyweight sides, but were at times unconvincing in their execution as they trailed the visitors at every change of ends. It was only a 17-10 final quarter romp that got the Mystics over the line, with the crafty Pulse dictating the game for much of the opening three spells.

There were some stand-out individual performances from the Mystics - the athletic Serena Guthrie had an impressive game at wing defence, keeping Pulse midcourter Liana Leota quiet for most of the match, just as she did for England in last year's internationals. Mystics captain Maria Tutaia was also strong, playing the lead role in the attack end for much of the match, whilst still producing an impressive 21/23 return from her shots at goal.

While the Mystics didn't lack for individual brilliance and touches of flair, as a group they did not execute well. The homeside opened the match with real intent, taking an 8-3 lead mid-way through the first quarter on the back of some slick work in the attack end, with the Tutaia setting up some nice ball for shooting partner Cathrine Latu.

But their confident start soon turned to overconfidence, as the homeside were perhaps guilty of trying to be a bit too clever on attack, opting for the low percentage plays about three too many times.

The high-risk strategy cost the homeside the lead as the Pulse settled themselves late in the quarter after taking a strategic time-out, turning a six-goal deficit mid-way through the period into 13-12 lead at the first break. Once they got the noses in front the Pulse, playing basic possession netball as is drilled in by their coach Robyn Broughton, proved difficult to get past.

It wasn't until late in the third quarter that the Mystics were able to get a decent roll on again and they took that momentum through to the final quarter.

Mystics coach Debbie Fuller said she was disappointed her side relinquished such a strong early position so easily, but pleased with the way they responded down the home stretch.

"I'd rather when we got out in front we pin our ears back and really go for it," she said.
"But we have to be realistic. It's our fourth game of the season and we're still trying to really embed our structures and some of us have taken a while to grow into it. But once they are in place I think we will have the absolute confidence to take control early in matches."

The Mystics coach was also pleased her side closed out the match in such emphatic style after blowing a five goal lead against the Thunderbirds in the final two minutes of last week's match, as the Adelaide side snatched a late draw.

"Going into that last two minutes it was like déjà vu last week - we were five up with a minute forty on the clock. So I was really proud that I was able to close out the game this week and hold our centre pass," said Fuller.

"Maria brought the group together and said we've been in this situation before and not nailed it, let's keep to our structures and work from there, so I was really proud of the leadership she showed out there."

Last week's draw still helped the Mystics to the top of the New Zealand conference table however, with that one point separating them from the second-placed Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. The Steel, the Mystics' round five opponent this Sunday, lie in third.

The star-studded Pulse line-up, which features five current Silver Ferns, including veterans Leota, Joline Henry, Jodi Brown and Katrina Grant, once again find themselves off the pace early on in the season. But the revamped finals format, which will see three teams from each country progress to the play-offs, means their position in the competition isn't as precarious as it first appears.

But for a side that boasts so much international talent, their form has been disappointing.