2022 ANZ Premiership Round 5 Preview
Take a look at this weekend’s matches in Round 5 of the ANZ Premiership.
Saturday, 9 April
Magic v Steel, 4.10pm at Energy Events Centre in Rotorua
A stunning goal from Splice Construction Magic shooter Bailey Mes will be tough to beat this season but it is more than the razzle-dazzle, one-handed clutch goal that has impressed from the Silver Fern in the opening rounds of the ANZ Premiership.
Mes is in the top five for accuracy and must have grabbed the eye of national coach Dame Noeline Taurua with her confidence on court and growing combination with Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Captain Sam Winders said despite the one-goal loss to the Pulse, she believed the team was building.
“I’m excited for what is to come, and I think that’s where the energy comes from with the team now.”
With players missing due to illness, it was also a welcomed sight to see former Fern Leana de Bruin back in Magic colours – the defender barely missing a beat as she bolstered a depleted defensive wall and showcased her attacking abilities further up court.
“It was very cool to have her back,” Winders said. “Even though it has been a couple of years for her, she knows how to play netball. It is in her blood.”
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel will be hoping to have t. r stalwart defender back for this key clash in Rotorua with Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit missing last week. Coach Reinga Bloxham was however pleased with the performance of her defenders in the loss to the Mystics.
“With (Selby-Rickit) there, sometimes players rely on her brain to do the work for them, so I think it was a good challenge for them to go out there and think for themselves on the spot – I think they’ll be better for it going forward, knowing they can do it.”
Sunday, 10 April
Tactix v Mystics, postponed under the league’s Covid-19 Match Postponement Policy
The ANZ Premiership will confirm a new date for the fixture in the coming weeks.
Stars v Magic, 4.10pm at Pulman Arena in Auckland
A nine-goal loss to the Steel in Round 3 will feel like an eternity ago for the Robinhood Stars who must be keen to reignite their campaign and build some momentum. It has been a disrupted start to the season – games in Round 1 and Round 4 all postponed – but with firepower across the board, the Stars remain a real threat in the 2022 league.
The last time they played the Splice Construction Magic was in the final round of the regular season last year, winning 65-46, and boast a superior record having won the past five encounters. The Stars, who are playing their first home game of the season, have Silver Ferns in all areas of the court but watch out for the match-ups in the middle with Gina Crampton likely to go up against her Ferns team-mate and Magic wing defence Sam Winders while fellow Ferns Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (Stars) and Claire Kersten (Magic) offer another mouth-watering prospect in the centre bibs.
Kersten’s workload has been immense in the early stages of the season as the Magic continue to work in Georgie Edgecombe to her new role at wing attack. The Magic were a part of the most spectacular finish of the season last week and will want to produce another 60-minute effort if they are to register a second win on the board.
Monday, 11 April
Pulse v Steel, 7.15pm at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington
Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse co-captain Tiana Metuarau and coach Yvette McCausland-Durie were both full of praise for shooter Aliyah Dunn who was cool as ice in landing a match-winning penalty at range last week. McCausland-Durie said it was “incredibly intense” for Dunn who stepped up to slot the winner against the Magic while Metuarau believed her circle mate was “one of the most consistent shooters in the league.”
Dunn has netted just over 70 per cent of all Pulse goals so far this season – 161 goals at 92 per cent accuracy. Metuarau also felt the one-goal win showed the potential the Pulse had this season.
“We’ll look at possession work (ahead of the Steel) but what was promising is that we managed to get ourselves out of a pressured situation which will be crucial for our next game.”
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel have won the last three meetings between the two teams and will hoping to mark the milestone match – with captain Shannon Saunders set to play her 150th national league match – with their third win of the season. Having played much of her elite career in the centre bib, Saunders has been an integral figure on the wing this year and leads the league with feeds into the shooting circle.
The Silver Ferns midcourter has been impressed with the Steel’s attacking efforts up front and will be hoping for another polished performance against the Pulse.
“When we’re good on attack we’re really good. We just need to keep that ball speed and keep possession.”