Commentator’s Call: Super Sunday is here!
SKY Sport NZ commentator Jenny Woods previews a blockbuster Super Sunday and also looks ahead to the remaining matches in ANZ Premiership Round 6.
Round 6 is a bumper edition with a Super Sunday in Invercargill. All six teams head south and aren’t there some great match-ups - GET TICKETS
At this stage of the competition, a number of matters are coming in to focus. The most obvious is the class of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel. They lost a quarter for just the second time this season on Wednesday night against the Northern Stars, but only when Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Jane Watson were off the court.
The only other quarter loss came in Round 2 against the SKYCITY Mystics. The Steel won that game 74-67, but dropped the second quarter 18-19. The rematch for these two sides comes on Sunday and should be a standout.
The Mystics feel they let themselves down with last week’s loss to the Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse. Despite 10 more attempts at goal, they lost 47-43. The defensive work by both sides was impressive, with the difference largely coming down to the more accurate shooting of Cathrine Tuivaiti and Tiana Metuarau.
The Pulse have two significant assignments in this round. They kick off Super Sunday with a return clash with the WBOP Magic, before backing up against the Steel on Monday night. The Magic got home by two goals when they played in Rotorua in Round 2, with the Pulse ultimately paying the price for a poor second quarter.
The Magic dropped their next two games after that, going down to the Steel and the Mystics. They too suffered a second quarter shocker in the game against the Mystics losing it 12-21. They won the second half, but the damage had been done.
The Magic picked up a win against the Silvermoon Tactix last week, but will come under significantly more pressure from the Pulse on Sunday. Phoenix Karaka in particular is benefiting from the specialist coaching of Wai Taumaunu, and that defensive unit including Katrina Grant and Claire Kersten is humming.
They in turn will be sorely tested on Monday night when they come up against Fowler-Reid and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. This should be a spectacle, with match-ups all over court. Kersten will have the job of trying to contain Gina Crampton, while watch for fireworks between Sara Bayman and Shannon Francois at centre. Francois is almost a blur on the court sometimes, such is her speed, and she shone against the Stars in Round 5.
The Stars and the Tactix meet again this round in what will be Marianne Delaney-Hoshek’s first game as head coach. The two sides met in Round 1, resulting in the Stars only win of the Premiership so far. While the Tactix will be looking for a fresh start, the Stars will want to build on some of the positives they took from Round 5. Maia Wilson had another strong game, while Kayla Cullen did some damage at WD, in something of a return to form.
The Tactix then make the trip to Auckland for Wednesday Night Netball, and a big ask against the Mystics.
You can hear Jenny and her commentary team colleagues calling all the action live on SKY Sport and FanPass (NZ fans) and on the ANZ Premiership Facebook page (outside NZ).