2022 ANZ Premiership Round 3 Preview
We take a look at all three match-ups in Round 3 of the ANZ Premiership.
Sunday, 27 March
Mystics v Pulse at 2.10pm at Trusts Arena in Auckland
Six goals separated these two teams when they met last week – the defending champion MG Mystics taking the game. They have been strengthened further since that match with Silver Ferns defender Phoenix Karaka returning for the 20-goal win over the Steel, also in Round 2.
They made history with their first win in Invercargill, but a high penalty count will be something for the Mystics to address ahead of their rematch against Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse. Coach Helene Wilson must however be happy with the ability to make numerous changes throughout the court and barely miss a beat.
Mystics training partner Carys Stythe has made the most of her opportunities in the ANZ Premiership and will be a player to watch as the season continues. But the Mystics can’t expect to have it all their own way when they return home, and they take on a Pulse side which sent a warning to others with their first 15 minutes of play against the Magic last week.
On what was their second game within 24 hours, the Pulse showcased their talents across the board. They too made seamless changes with captain Kelly Jury saying it was pleasing to see all 10 players on the bench get on the court and play well. But she said it would be important for her team to make the most of any break they can get against the Mystics.
“We’ve just got to keep our head in it and we need to keep going in that upward direction and push on. Our attacking end did so well with that ball speed, and that’s what we’ve got to back ourselves with,” she said.
Steel v Stars at 4.10pm at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel have experienced the highs and lows of the ANZ Premiership within the space of a week – a commanding win in their season opener followed up closely by a disappointing loss. Now captain Shannon Saunders says they must take “personal responsibility” for their performance after the 20-goal defeat to the Mystics.
“It was just basic errors out there,” she said of the 24 general play turnovers. “That’s the kind of stuff we just can’t afford to do. We need to do our own job which we probably didn’t do.”
The Steel will also be hoping to have shooter George Fisher at full fitness after she missed the first quarter against the Mystics.
“She’s a really good target in the back but I think we had the players out there that could do the job, we just needed to be smarter with the ball,” Saunders said.
Hosting the Robinhood Stars will be another tough ask with the Maia Wilson-led side impressing on their first outing of the season. Coming from behind for the win over the Tactix, the Stars were strong on defence having added more to their wall with the inclusion of Holly Fowler who grabbed two intercepts at wing and a deflection.
Add in Anna Harrison and Elle Temu, who snaffled five intercepts and eight deflections against the Tactix, and the visitors will ensure the Steel work hard for every goal in the Deep South.
Monday, 30 March
Magic v Tactix at 7.15pm at Trustpower Arena in Tauranga
Splice Construction Magic captain Sam Winders says her team needs to ensure they start well and stick to their structures when they host the Trident Homes Tactix in Round 3. The Magic looked shell-shocked at quarter time against the Pulse last week, when they trailed by 10 goals, and Winders said their hesitancy in that opening spell proved costly.
“We’ve always said our structures are what we need to go back to and they work every time. It was just a couple of little basic errors that put us on the back foot right at the start. But I felt like the fight was in it for the rest of the match,” she said.
Coach Mary-Jane Araroa welcomed Silver Ferns shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio in the Magic fold with 15 valuable minutes of court time – her first in Magic colours – and will be keen to see more of the world champion in the coming rounds.
Meanwhile, Tactix captain Kimiora Poi was pleased with her team’s improved connections through court and the early defensive pressure they created in their Round 2 loss to the Stars. She said they were still working on their game management in ‘critical moments when we must score the ball and get the ball’.
The Tactix however showed plenty of patience to get the ball to circle edge on attack and with shooter Ellie Bird netting 92 per cent of her attempts at goal, must ensure they can get ball into her hands against the Magic.