An outstanding defensive effort set the platform for the Northern Mystic's emphatic 42-28 win over the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship netball match in Auckland today.
Hoping to register their first win of the season, the Pulse had no answers to the smothering defensive prowess and physical presence of the Mystics.
Starting slowly, the home team eventually ground out a comprehensive win with a powerful second half which left the hapless Pulse devoid of options and penetration on attack.
Little ball made its way to either shooting circle in the first stanza as strong defensive efforts held sway to keep the scores low.
Both teams lacked structure on attack where poor movement, misdirected passes and basic errors were a feature. There was a lot of frantic movement but much of it wayward as the turnovers mounted.
The defensive efforts of Vilimaina Davu, Leana de Bruin and Sheryl Scanlan for the Mystics and Kahurangi Waititi, Sonia Mkoloma and Cushla Lichtwark for the Pulse caused plenty of destruction as the ball swung wildly from end-to-end to ensure the scores stayed tight.
The shooting was also wayward as the Mystics headed into the first break with a narrow 8-7 advantage.
The strong defence continued the through the second quarter with the Mystics slowly turning the game their way with better use of their turnovers.
Mystics goalshoot Jade Topia found her range under the hoop to give the home some momentum. At the other end cracks began to appear in the Pulse's attacking patterns as they struggled mightily to penetrate their opponent’s oppressive defensive wall.
Having gained the ascendancy, the Mystics went to half-time more handily placed at 18-11.
The Mystics took a firm grip on the game during the third quarter as they continued to squeeze the Pulse’s attacking options. Davu and de Bruin were instrumental in reducing the ball supply to the Pulse’s shooters to a trickle.
When it did make it into the circle, the Pulse shooters lacked confidence and accuracy as many went astray under the close scrutiny of the ever-present Mystics defenders.
The introduction of goalshoot Cathrine Latu paid dividends for the Mystics as the lofty target made the most of her numerous opportunities with a steady conversion rate helping the home team increase its lead to 30-21 at three-quarter time.
With more ball at their disposal the longer the match wore on, the Mystics continued to dominate in the closing stages.
The demoralised Pulse defence kept plugging away to win their share of turnover ball but their attackers could not penetrate the Mystics defensive stranglehold through the court.
The Mystics built on their second half dominance as they streaked away to a commanding 14-goal win in a match where little but pride was at stake.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide Thunderbirds kept their play-off hopes alive with a convincing 66-47 victory over Queensland Firebirds on Saturday.
The Thunderbirds led by just two points at half-time before a power second half saw them run out easy 19-goal winners.
Shooters Kate Beveridge and Natalie Medhurst starred for the home team all game, scoring 37 and 29 goals respectively at 93 and 94 percent accuracy.
On the other hand, the Firebirds' main avenue to goal Romelda Aiken was well held by defenders Geva Mentor and Bianca Reddy as Queensland struggled in attack.
But just as the Thunderbirds looked like assuming control - at one stage getting out to a nine-goal break in