ANZ Premiership Preview – Super Sunday Round 11
Splice Construction Magic v Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse
Sunday, May 5 in Invercargill
TEAM NEWS:It is hard to see if any team is going to challenge the Pulse with the Katrina Rore-led side having dispatched every ANZ Premiership side with confidence this season. Even a slow start against the Tactix last week did little to affect the final blow-out on the scoreboard and Rore says the belief within the squad ensures they know when to switch gear for the victory. “We haven’t had great starts,” she said. “But we know skillfully, we’ve got it. We know our game plan, we’ve got it. We know when we put it together, we’ve got it. So that means we have confidence in each other to do our jobs when we need to.” With their place in the Finals Series locked in, will Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie be tempted to tamper with her starting seven to rest some bodies or will she stick with the players who have steered them through 10 unbeaten rounds? For the Magic, it is now about producing a strong performance. “At the end of the day I don’t really care about the scoreboard, but we just want to sign our names to a good performance,” captain Casey Kopua said. “I know that we can do it which has been the most frustrating thing.”
WHO TO WATCH:
Sam Sinclair (Magic) – has the Magic midcourter done enough to impress national coach Noeline Taurua for a place at the World Cup? A good match-up with the ever consistent Claire Kersten.
Whitney Souness (Pulse) versus Lisa Mather (Magic) – Mather has been in the starting line recently but will need to be at her best to shut down the speed and finesse of Souness. Rookie Georgie Edgecombe is waiting in the wings for the Magic defence after a strong debut last round.
Karin Burger (Pulse) – such an imposing defender outside of the circle and will make life hard for an already struggling Magic attack. Sits in the top five for both intercepts and deflections so far this season.
Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel v Northern Mystics
Sunday, May 5 in Invercargill
TEAM NEWS:
A gut-wrenching one goal loss last week has all but ended the Northern Mystics faint hopes of reaching the Finals Series and the disappointment was written all over the face of defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson. The stand-in skipper was almost speechless after the loss to the Northern Stars in Round 10, but felt it was their own personal mistakes which was their undoing. “We didn’t catch our own balls, we didn’t defend hard enough…I felt like we did it to ourselves,” she said. There has been considerable growth in this Mystics unit in recent weeks which they will need to continue against the second-placed Southern Steel in the heart of the Steel’s loyal fan base. “It does feel like we’re improving,” Sokolich-Beatson said. “It just feels like we just can’t tie it all together.” Of some concern is the on-going absence of captain Phoenix Karaka who has now been ruled out for four weeks with concussion. The Steel was pleased with their latest win and securing a home advantage for the May 29 Elimination Final will be their next goal. Coach Reinga Bloxham used her full bench in Round 10 as she eyes a big week with games against the Mystics and a key rematch against Pulse.
WHO TO WATCH:
Erena Mikaere (Mystics) – the long-levered Mystics defender has had a strong second half to the season and has combined well with Michaela Sokolich-Beatson. Another tough ask against Lenize Potgieter.
Grace Kukutai (Mystics) versus Gina Crampton (Steel) – another MVP performance from Crampton shows she is hitting form at the right end of the season and Kukutai will have to bring plenty of hustle to slow to the Steel wing down.
Abby Erwood (Steel) – picked up an intercept, five deflections and a rebound the last time these teams met and forms a strong defensive wall alongside Kate Heffernan and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
The Good Oil Tactix v Northern Stars
Sunday, May 5 in Invercargill
TEAM NEWS:
Consolidating their place on the ANZ Premiership points’ ladder was the goal for the Northern Stars last week and they did it with composure. Captain Leana de Bruin was pleased her side kept calm in a thrilling finish against the Northern Mystics and believes some of the pressure now comes off with an eight-point buffer to the fourth-placed Magic. “We wanted to really go out there and actually play to our potential and just be calm and composed,” de Bruin said. “We haven’t had that for four weeks so it’s great to have it back.” The defender said it was a good feeling to win again and she was pleased with the role everyone played on court. Now they will be aiming to build momentum heading into the Finals Series (with three games leading into the play-offs) and reversing the loss they suffered to Tactix in Round 9 would be a good start. But it won’t be easy against a Tactix side with nothing to lose. The red-and-blacks were hungrier for the win when they last met and showed some strong patches of play on both attack and defence against the league leaders last week. With their Finals Series hopes dashed, coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek may start to think about options for her next campaign.
WHO TO WATCH:
Charlotte Elley (Tactix) – the young wing defence has had a strong few weeks and is working tirelessly outside the circle. Is also providing a strong link onto attack.
Ellie Bird (Tactix) versus Storm Purvis (Stars) – Bird has gone from strength to strength this season with her ball skills and accuracy, and put on a strong display against the Stars in Round 9. Purvis started against Bird last time but found herself pushed out to goal defence during the match.
Temepara Bailey (Stars) – the midcourt maestro brought the composure through the middle when the Stars needed it in the thriller over the Mystics. Her experience will be key heading into the Finals Series.