Commentator’s Call: Sensational Super Sunday marks half-way point in season
What a difference a day makes – particularly if that day is a Super Sunday in Christchurch.
It saw the Central Pulse beaten for the first time this season, no margin across the three games of more than three goals, and the most dramatic dying moment of a game in the ANZ Premiership’s short history.
The tone was set by the Steel just getting home ahead of the Stars 63-60, nigh on identical to the 63-61 score line between the two sides seven days earlier. The Tactix and Magic encounter was also very similar to their Round 5 clash, with the Magic again hanging on, but only by one goal this time 48-47.
The game that bore absolutely no resemblance to the one played a week earlier was that between the Mystics and the Pulse.
Smashed by 22 goals in Round 5, the Mystics went to Christchurch with a plan – and it worked. Switching Anna Harrison from GK to WD was a masterstroke as her long limbs wielded their special brand of disruption. Phoenix Karaka and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson combined well in the defensive circle, and the introduction of Maria Folau at the start of the second quarter also reaped dividends.
But the biggest cheer from many would have been reserved for the match-winning falling-out-of-court shot from Bailey Mes. Just reward for a player who has weathered a few storms, and never gives up – the Mystics home 52-51.
Monday night’s match between the Tactix and the Steel maintained the tempo. Another beauty which somehow the Steel stole from under the Tactix’ noses 53-52.
And the final match of the Round proved to be another nail biter with the Magic hanging on to take victory over the Stars, 64-61, leaving the Stars winless but with five bonus points due to the closeness of matches.
So with all matches in Round 6 determined by 3 goals or less, and every team taking home at least 1 point from every match, at the half way point in the season things cannot be much closer!
Round 7 promises to be just as fascinating. The Pulse play the Magic in Wellington on Sunday although this will be a different Magic side to that which the Pulse easily beat 61-46 four weeks ago. Expect a close one.
Monday night sees the Stars take on the Tactix at home, and we all know what happens when these two play… a one goal margin. Could this be the Stars opportunity to take home their first win of the season?
The Round wraps up at the North Shore Events Centre on Wednesday night when the Mystics host the Steel. The home side has lost to the southerners twice already this season, but will have newfound confidence after knocking over the Pulse last week.