Strong 2nd spell takes Mystics to win over Stars
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A strong second quarter helped the Mystics retain the Northern Challenge trophy when they out-paced their cross-Auckland Stars Netball rivals 57-51 in the netball Premiership.
The Stars held the upper hand heading into the rematch after winning their first-round clash by four goals but the home side turned the tables in classic Mystics fashion to reinforce their firm grip on the trophy.
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Two defining rejections by veteran Mystics defender Phoenix Karaka in the last five minutes halted the threat of a resurgent Stars, who were nibbling their way back into contention while also denying them a losing bonus point (for finishing within five).
Starting with a bang, the Stars were left reflecting on what might have been after falling away to a demoralising 8-20 second quarter stumble. They fought back gamely but ultimately left themselves too much ground to make up.
The Mystics needed no second invitation and once in the groove, midcourt maestro Peta Toeava was the orchestrator of some scintillating passages of play and with the defence end flexing their muscle, the Stars faced an uphill battle.
In a blow for the hosts, influential goalkeeper Catherine Hall was ruled out of the match after suffering an ankle injury last week, with Charlotte Manley and Karaka forming the in-circle defensive pairing. The Stars boasted a full-strength side with the experienced Samon Nathan getting the nod to start at wing defence.
Both sides started off in faultless fashion with an eye-catching display of clinical error-free netball. Both side’s attacking accuracy ensured a goal-for-goal opening eight minutes with pin-point feeds into respective shooters Maia Wilson and Amelia Walmsley.
It took until the last five minutes for a turnover to occur, the Stars benefitting from a Mystics lapse to produce a surging few minutes. The errors compounded for the Mystics, the Stars making the most of it on the back of terrific shooter-to-shooter connection between Walmsley and Martina Salmon as the visitors headed to the first break with a 16-11 lead.
Manley then sparked a momentum-swinging shift for the Mystics. With the rangy defender shining through her non-stop efforts and turnovers at the defensive end, her team-mates jumped on board with a lift across the court.
Stung into a response, the home side turned the game on its head, finding their flow on attack with some dazzling through-court exchanges while shooters Wilson (19 from 19) and Filda Vui (12 from 12) revelled in the clean ball landing in their hands.
On the other side of the ledger, the Stars lost their shape and looked half the side of the previous quarter, the onslaught taking its toll on their decision-making and execution. A string of six straight goals gave the Mystics the upper hand, the hosts keeping their foot on the throttle with a withering 20-8 second quarter barrage to take a 31-24 lead into the main break.
Regathering their control, the Stars mustered a stirring comeback in a competitive third stanza, negating further damage to win the stanza and leave the game delicately poised.
Receiving a warning, Manley was replaced by lofty rookie goalkeeper Leila Atkins, a Marvels national league player, the Stars playing with more poise and accuracy to reverse the Mystics dominance.
The flow and productivity returned for the Stars shooters while midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was at the heart of the revival. Outscoring the Mystics 17-13 trimmed the Mystics lead to 44-41 at the last break, leaving the game wide open for both sides.