Source: Radio New Zealand
The Mystics were without defender Catherine Hall (file photo). Blake Armstrong / www.photosport.nz
The Mystics have beaten cross-town rivals the Stars 57-51, in a battle for third place on the ANZ Premiership ladder, without one of their stars.
Both sides came into the game on Saturday with a record of three wins, two losses, and a bonus point, but the Mystics sat third on the ladder, thanks to a superior goal differential.
The way things are going, the two Auckland teams could be battling it out until the final round in a month’s time for that third spot, and a place in the play-offs.
When the teams met in the opening round of the ANZ Premiership, the Stars defeated the Mystics 63-59.
The Mystics have now won three games in a row, while the Stars have lost two on the bounce.
The Mystics were without defender Catherine Hall, who had to leave the court late in round five, after awkwardly jarring her foot into the base of the goal post.
They are waiting on scan results to determine the seriousness of the foot injury and with just two weeks before Silver Ferns’ selectors are due to pick the Commonwealth Games team, they will be sweating on those results too.
To meet the New Zealand Olympic Committee deadline, the national selectors need to submit the team on 1 June.
Hall has been dominating the defensive stats, and is arguably the player of the ANZ Premiership so far. She got her Silver Ferns debut last year and gave a glimpse of what she is capable of on the international stage.
Despite only having a handful of test caps, the national selectors would surely have the 22-year-old pencilled in for July’s Commonwealth Games.
Mystics defender Phoenix Karaka (file photo) PHOTOSPORT
In Hall’s absence the Mystics defence end produced a blinder.
Rookie Charlotte Manley got nearly a full game and was one of the best on court. Veteran Phoenix Karaka used all her smarts in the home straight and blocked two of Martina Salmon’s shots.
The Stars led 16-11 after the first quarter but the Mystics responded with a huge 20-8 second quarter effort to take a seven goal half-time advantage.
In what was a see-saw affair, the Stars then won the third quarter, to trail by just three goals heading into the final spell.
Mystics coach Tia Winikerei made a number of changes throughout. When Manley received a warning in the last few minutes of the game, she was replaced by Leila Atkins, a Marvels national league player.
Tactix heap more misery on Magic
Earlier, the Tactix extended their home win record to 10 consecutive matches, after beating the Magic 58-37 at Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre, in Christchurch.
The new-look Tactix have suffered just one loss after six rounds to sit at the top of the ladder. The Steel could overtake them if they beat the Pulse in Wellington on Sunday.
Laura Balmer (centre) and Ash Barnett (right) have been a dynamic defensive duo in their first year at the Tactix. Photosport
Off the back of an MVP performance in her first start of the season Hannah Glen started at goal shoot and provided a solid foundation before Charlie Bell replaced her during the second quarter.
Glen returned midway through the final quarter, giving goal attack Amorangi Malesala a well deserved break after putting up 14 goals.
The Magic welcomed experienced shooter Saviour Tui back from injury, when she took the court during the second quarter. Midcourter Georgie Edgecombe tried to keep the Magic in touching distance, pulling off a game high six intercepts.
But the Tactix were consistent throughout, winning every quarter. The home side also enjoyed 91 percent shooting accuracy, compared to the Magic’s 75 percent.
Former Silver Fern Gina Crampton played 15 minutes when she entered in the third quarter, in what was her first ANZ Premiership game in two years.
Crampton recently finished a temporary contract in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition. The 34-year-old answered an SOS to join the Tactix as injury cover while captain Erikana Pedersen recovers from an injury.
Tactix centre Holly Mather had a strong game on defence and attack.
The Tactix showed why they have the best defensive record in the competition, with Ash Barnett and Laura Balmer winning a lot of ball, supported by wing defence Fa’amu Muliaga in front.
The winless Magic are enduring a tough season, winning just two quarters so far to remain at the bottom of the ladder.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand