Northern Mystics 51
Southern Steel 34
The Northern Mystics have sent a strong opening message as they attempt to shake off their tag as transtasman league underachievers, demolishing an injury-ravaged Southern Steel line-up at Trusts Stadium last night.
In a patchy opening effort, the Mystics had a very slow start, but built into the game as their combinations began to find their rhythm. By midway through the final quarter, they looked slick and polished on attack, with their trademark flair and speed matched with precision.
But the 17-goal scoreline flattered the home side as the Steel lost their way after halftime when their inexperience started to show.
With the exception of their shooting end, the Steel fielded the same starting line-up that took the court in last year's minor semifinal against the Magic.
But it was in their young shooting end that they struggled. With Ferns shooter Daneka Wipiiti absent, they needed former Fern Paula Griffin, who is hoping to win back her black dress this year, to step up and take charge of the shooting end.
But in her first game with the franchise, Griffin had a quiet outing, lacking assertiveness with her general attacking play, and was shaky on the shot, which did not help youngster Te Paea Selby-Rickit's confidence in her ANZ Championship debut.
The pair struggled with the range and athleticism of Mystics defender Anna Scarlett, whose long limbs caused the Steel problems all night.
In desperation, coach Robyn Broughton introduced former Silver Fern Tania Dalton at goal shoot after halftime. Her debut was short-lived though - she went off 10 minutes later with an apparent calf injury and Selby-Rickit played out the remainder of the match.
The game was the first time the championship's new umpiring initiative was unveiled, with two Australians in charge. Usually, the game would be officiated by local umpires, but to foster understanding about the different styles of play, the league has appointed Australians to run some matches in New Zealand. Likewise, Kiwi whistleblowers will officiate all-Australian games.
It took the two sides a while to adjust to the calls of visiting umpires Josh Bowring and Rachael Ayre, particularly in the way they policed the contest for the ball. At several stages through the opening quarter the shooters would look to the umpires, apparently flummoxed a penalty wasn't called.
As a result, the first quarter was more defensive-oriented - with the ball swinging up and down as both attack ends struggled to find their rhythm.
Nine minutes into the game, the two sides had rustled up only eight goals between them, with the score locked at 4-all.
By the first break they had just managed to stretch the scoring beyond a goal a minute, with the Mystics leading 10-7.
Mystics captain Temepara George said some of the umpiring calls were causing confusion, but that the players were as much to blame for the slow start.
"We kind of didn't let the ball go or were in the wrong positions at the wrong time and it took us a while to figure some of that stuff out," George said.
The Mystics took charge early in the second period though, shooting out to a seven-goal lead as the midcourt pairing of George and Grace Rasmussen settled in.
With Cathrine Latu and Maria Tutaia getting much better service, their rate of scoring increased markedly and the home side took a 24-16 lead at the long break.
"I think when we started to let the ball go with confidence and have belief in each other, then it started to happen for us," George said.
