Commentator’s Call: intrigue, intrigue, and more intrigue

First it was a spanner, now a wrench has been thrown into the works according to SKY Sport commentator Jenny Woods in this week’s Commentator’s Call. Can the Stars make it three on the trot? Can the Mystics finally get a win over the Pulse? Can the Magic break a three-match losing streak? All this and more in Round 10…

If ever confirmation was needed of the class of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, it was delivered on Wednesday night.

Billed as the game of the round, their clash with the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse at Porirua’s Te Rauparaha Arena promised much. It certainly delivered, but not in the way most expected.It’s not every day a team scores 80 goals, particularly not when that team is playing the side closest to it on the points table.

Steel pulled out their best game of the season, as the Pulse pulled out their worst. A scoreline of 23-10 in the first quarter pretty much sealed the outcome.The Steel deserve every plaudit they get.They’re reaping the rewards of stability, and the creation of a positive team environment where players want to stay and thrive.

It also makes the race for the Finals all the more intriguing.

Each team has five games left; in other words they all have to play each other one more time.

The Stars threw a spanner in the works by beating the SKYCITY Mystics in Round 8, and then threw in the wrench by beating the WBOP Magic in Round 9.The challenge for the Stars is that they play the Steel for a third and final time on Sunday afternoon. Pulling off that hat-trick, would be akin to Barbados beating Jamaica - but wait, that just happened (in a fascinating series in the Caribbean).Their win over the Magic was far from pretty, but the Stars are showing a fair amount of grit.They’ll need every ounce they can muster in Invercargill.

The Magic have the unenviable – and uncharacteristic - record of three losses on the trot.Expect that to be turned around on Monday night at Claudelands Arena.They face the Silvermoon Tactix who had a sensational first half against the Mystics last week, but then let it slip.What’s critical for the Magic’s Finals chances is that they’ve come away from each of those three losses with bonus points.That’s what could see them safely into the Elimination Final.

Wednesday night’s clash could go a long way to sealing the fate of both the Mystics and the Pulse.The Mystics themselves are calling this a grudge match.They haven’t been able to beat the Pulse this season, and this is their last chance to do so – unless of course they meet in the Elimination Final and that’s looking increasingly unlikely. One of these sides, looks destined to miss out.

Their game will see elite Netball return to the North Shore Events Centre for the first time in a number of years.The Mystics will be able to tap into that core base of North Harbour Netball support.This will be a test for both sides. The Pulse was visibly rocked by that loss to the Steel, while the Mystics know this is a game they can’t afford to lose.

Picks for a season that’s becoming increasingly hard to pick … Steel, Magic, and Mystics.