Match Preview: Super Sunday Round 12
It’s a super battle for the ANZ Premiership’s super round with three teams continuing the arm wrestle for two vacant spots in the Finals Series.
All six teams suit up twice in Round 12 starting with Super Sunday at The Trusts Arena in Auckland before backing up on Monday and Wednesday nights.
The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel is the only side to have cemented their seat at the Finals Series table with musical chairs continuing between WBOP Magic, SKYCITY Mystics and Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse for the places in the Elimination Final.
On paper the Pulse are well placed to make a big move this round with games against the bottom-placed Silvermoon Tactix followed by the Northern Stars.
They rediscovered their mojo with a big win over the Magic but must be wary of the banana-skin status both the Tactix and Stars can provide.
The Tactix will go into the game with a spring in their step having nabbed their first win of the season – a game they won without new shooting recruit Ellie Bird.
They kept their turnovers low and coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek used the same seven in the morale-boosting victory.
Goal keeper Temalisi Fakahokotau is producing some of the best Netball of her career and is third on the ladder for deflections – six of those coming in the win against the Stars along with two intercepts – and will be a good match-up for Pulse shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti.
The Pulse has had two comfortable wins over the Tactix but must know any complacency will be costly with the finals looming.
Pressure mounts on the Magic who have a tough few days ahead with a match-up against the unbeaten Steel before backing up against the Mystics.
They are second on the points table but must rebound from the disappointments against the Pulse if they are to extend their season.
Only four goals separated the Magic and Steel when they met last but captain Casey Kopua admitted her Magic side needed to take another step up after losing to the Pulse.
She claimed her side had been “all action and no talk” which was not ideal preparation to fight for a place in the top three.
Delight was the obvious emotion from captain Wendy Frew after her Steel side were pushed to the brink but held their composure against the Mystics – a timely test in the run-in to the finals she said.
More gains on defence was an area of focus for the top ranked team ahead of their clash with Magic Frew said, but it was hard for the Steel stalwart to hide her pleasure as her charges survived their sternest challenge yet.
Meanwhile, the Mystics remain in fourth place on the points table but will be buoyed by their latest outing when they came within one goal of ending Steel’s unbeaten run.They have 15 points – just one behind both the Magic and Pulse in second and third spots respectively.
Consistency week-in and week-out has been an area of concern for the Mystics and they will need to maintain the form they showed in Dunedin to stop the Stars from a second straight upset over their northern neighbours.
The Stars need captain Leana de Bruin back on court if they are to hustle the experienced Mystics shooting combination while at the other end of the court, 60 minutes from sharp-shooter Maia Wilson is also a must.
The Mystics have proven they are a team that can be title contenders but in a super round of Netball will need to dig deep for maximum points.
Can't make it to The Trusts Arena? Fans can catch all the action live on SKY Sport 1 from 2pm, and for our international fans (outside NZ) live on the ANZ Premiership Facebook page.