Pulse climb ANZ Premiership ladder with crucial win

Te Wānganga o Raukawa Pulse have kept their eye on the finals series with a commanding win to end a three-match losing streak and keep their campaign rolling.

Playing in front of a raucous home crowd, the Pulse were in control from start to finish to beat the ANZ Premiership table-topping VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix 59-50 at TSB Arena in Wellington.

The last eight matches between these two teams has seen the result alternated and it proved no different this time with the Pulse getting one back over their red-and-black rivals, a crucial three points banked and a return to the top three on the ladder.

When they last met in Round 6, the Tactix came away with an 11-point win with goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit having a big impact on the outcome, but the work of captain Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason nullified the Tactix’ key weapon.

In contrast, the Tactix had to throw everything at Amelia Walmsley who dominated in the circle against Jane Watson, Karin Burger and Charli Fidler – netting 54 of her team’s points.

The Pulse were without regular midcourters Fa’amu Ioane and Whitney Souness, both players ruled out with illness, giving Ainsleyana Puleiata her first start of the season.  Gabi Simpson started at centre while Maddy Gordon moved to wing attack in a re-jigged midcourt.

For the Tactix, it was again a settled line with Martina Salmon getting the start ahead of Ellie Bird at goal shoot.

Both teams took time to settle, the hosts realising the importance of the result and the points on offer, but it was the Tactix to make the first break on the scoreboard.

Finding the league’s highest scorer was paramount for the Pulse with Walmsley a safe bet under the hoop, and her feeders were made to work hard over the ranging arms of Jane Watson and Karin Burger.

But it wasn’t easy at the other end of the court either with Salmon pushed high in the circle by Jackson and Mason keeping tabs on Selby-Rickit.

Every goal was hard fought for entering the super shot period and a turnover created by Gordon lifted the Pulse’s intensity as they levelled the scores – a goal on the buzzer giving the hosts a 13-12 advantage at the first break.

Shutting down the shooter-to-shooter play, the Pulse defensive duo troubled the Tactix’ attacking flow and a couple of turnovers gave the hosts a four-goal lead early in the stanza.

It prompted Tactix coach Donna Wilkins to make a change in the shooting circle with Ellie Bird replacing Salmon, but there was no stopping the Pulse who jumped out to a 21-14 buffer before a timeout was called.

The connections between Tiana Metuarau and Walmsley were solid in the spell as the latter kept the scoreboard ticking over – the Tactix having no answer to the high ball into the circle.

Confidence continued to grow, and the full house cheered loudly as Amorangi Malesala was injected into the super shot period, landing her first two point shot as the Pulse went into halftime with a commanding 30-20 lead.

The Tactix made changes in the midcourt with captain Erikana Pedersen moving to centre and Parris Petera coming on to wing attack with Holly Mather moving into defence, while Salmon returned to the shooting circle.

But it was again the long reach of Jackson foiling the visitors attempts on attack as the Pulse held onto their lead.

The quick release into Walmsley was the undoing of the Tactix’ defence and with Mason and Jackson picking up plenty of ball at the other end of the court, the visitors were in danger of falling out of the contest, trailing 33-45 heading into the last turn.