Match Preview: Magic v Pulse
TEAM NEWS:
The WBOP Magic may already be eyeing the Steel as their main opposition on the league ladder – their Round 3 clash eagerly anticipated – but they can ill-afford to take the Central Pulse lightly.
The Pulse surprised some with their one-goal win over the Mystics and the cool head of their teenage goal attack Tiana Metuarau impressed many.
“She’s been outstanding,” Pulse captain Katrina Grant said of the 16-year-old.“Coming in in her school uniform to training and it is like ‘oh yeah, you’re only Year 12’.I can’t wait to see what she’s like at the end of the season.”
Metuarau held her composure to net a clutch of goals late in the fourth quarter thriller against the Mystics to give Pulse a match-winning buffer.
But coach Yvette McCausland-Durie may be wary of exposing the youngster too much against in-form defensive duo Kelly Jury and Casey Kopua from the Magic.
The long limbs of Jury picked up a massive nine deflections and four intercepts as she continuously disrupted the Northern Stars flow in Round 1.
WHO TO WATCH:
Ariana Cable-Dixon (Magic) – a stand-in for injured midcourter Sydney Fraser, the youngster has taken her opportunities with both hands.She has impressed in her two outings with a display of speed and vision from the centre role.
Monica Falkner (Magic) versus Katrina Grant (Pulse) – Falkner is another debutante who has made her mark early on, holding her form against Silver Fern Kayla Cullen in Hamilton, with a high work-rate and accuracy at goal attack.But it’s another step up against Pulse captain Grant who forms a strong combination with Phoenix Karaka at the back.
Cathrine Tuivaiti – it may be early days but the move to Wellington looks to have given the shooter a much-needed lift.She takes on the senior role in the shooting circle for the Pulse and with 144 matches under her belt, has the Netball nous to guide her rookie team-mates up front.
HOW TO WATCH:
Wednesday Night Netball makes its debut on SKY, with NZ-based fans able to tune into SKY Sport 1 and FanPass to catch all the action live from 7.30pm. International fans (outside NZ) can watch all the action live on the ANZ Premiership Facebook page.