Stars consolidate winning momentum as veterans take centre stage
With two veterans playing their part in a game for the ages, Stars Netball produced a stirring second half to inflict a decisive 56-39 win over Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Auckland on Sunday.
With former Silver Ferns defensive legends Leana de Bruin for the Stars, and Magic stalwart Casey Kopua taking their spots, the match held added interest and spice. Neither disappointed with both showing their competitive spirit remained undiminished while proving they’ve still got the goods.
With the Magic trailing by just three goals at halftime, the Stars lifted the levels in a dominant second half, squeezing the home side’s volume with a suffocating defensive effort while shooter Amelia Walmsley was a reliable presence under the hoop with an influential 46 from 49 return for her day’s work.
The Stars had the luxury of introducing goal attack Crystal Maro for the last nine minutes while injury replacement defender Kate Walsh, a former Adelaide Thunderbirds player, got on for the final five minutes for her first game time.
Perhaps appropriately for Heritage Round, the Magic turned back the clock in adding the 40-year-old Kopua, who still plays regularly at club level, as injury cover for Oceane Maihi (on managed loads), while the well-travelled Grace Walsh (nee Namana), who has plied her trade in New Zealand and off-shore, was drafted in to anchor the goal shoot spot after injury ruled Saviour Tui out of contention.
The Stars soon realised they were in a contest with both Kopua and Walsh featuring prominently at both ends of the court. Kopua was in vintage form with her ability over the ball to block shots and pick off intercepts.
The rangy pair of Kopua and Erena Mikaere initially unsettled talented young Stars shooting duo, Walmsley, playing her 50th national league match, and Martina Salmon. The Magic, however, struggled at the attack end on occasion with opportunities wasted through soft errors.
Settling their own attack end through patience and with Walmsley and Salmon finding their groove, the Stars crept to a 12-10 lead at the end of a low-scoring first quarter.
The tight nature of the contest continued on the resumption with a goal-for-goal stand-off prompting a Stars tactical time-out and resulting in the introduction of another legend in the form of de Bruin.
The 48-year-old Stars assistant coach slotted in seamlessly and with immediate impact while creating a vintage side-show at either end of the court. The ageless De Bruin’s impact helped set fellow defender Kate Burley up with a run of intercepts as the Stars grabbed the initiative.
With Claire O’Brien setting up the attacking end and regularly connecting with her shooters, the Stars jumped out to a five-goal lead but the Magic were far from done.
Inspired by Mikaere and Kopua picking up defensive opportunities, the Magic came back strongly to narrow the gap and leaving them well in the contest when the Stars took a narrow 24-21 lead into the main break.
With Kopua forced off early in the third quarter with a lower leg injury, replaced by Maihi, the Stars took full advantage. Offered several opportunities early, the Magic, in a story of the match, were unable to make their opponents pay.
Instead, the Stars stepped up a gear, retaining their composure on attack while de Bruin continued her menacing presence to keep Walsh quiet under the hoop. At the other end, Walmsley was a constant feature at the Stars shooting end through her positioning and accuracy to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Rattled at both ends of the court, the Magic were unable to inflict a positive response, the Stars building on the momentum swing to forge a handy 41-31 lead at three-quarter time.