Commentator’s Call: Intrigue and Injuries
Round 2 of the ANZ Premiership had helpings of everything, accompanied by a side-dish of controversy.
The moment Northern Stars WD Fa’amu Ioane was sent from the court with eight minutes of the game against the Mystics remaining, there were always going to be repercussions. The Stars were trailing by two goals at the time, but with just six players on court, their chances were shot.
It’s no bad thing for something like this to happen. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of what happened at Trusts Arena, it throws up the question of what to do with players who continually transgress, without sacrificing the game itself.
The class of the Pulse is becoming clear. They essentially snuffed out any chance the Tactix had with a withering second quarter last Monday night which they won 15-6. The Mainlanders came back with a fighting second quarter in Wellington but the damage had been done.
The Pulse begins Round 3 with a trip to Hamilton, which will be the Magic’s first home game of the season. The Waikato Bay of Plenty side must be thinking about taking shares in a medical centre. Even before the season started they cruelly lost youngster Sydney Fraser with an ACL rupture, while still on the comeback trail from a snapped Achilles. Lenize Potgieter is only just back from her injury, and now Kelly Jury has dislocated her shoulder in an awkward fall during Wednesday night’s close loss to the Steel. It remains to be seen how long the lanky GK is on the sideline.
Invercargill gets its first ANZ Premiership game since last year’s Grand Final when the Steel play the Mystics on Monday night. This promises much. There’s no doubt the Mystics are improving – and they needed to after that first outing in Round 1. The Steel will be pleased with Wednesday night’s win, but also very aware they only just got past a hobbled Magic side.
Some players simply can’t buy a trick. Thoughts are very much with Tactix skipper Jess Maclennan who looks as if she’s in for another long stint in the rehab ward, after just getting back on court after her last ruptured ACL. Her side is at home to the Stars on Wednesday night... a rematch of that Round 1 extra time thriller, with all eyes on Fa’amu Ioane.