Pulse upset leaders Tactix in netball Premiership
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
With their season’s fate already determined the Pulse have played the spoilers role to perfection with an upset win over leaders the Tactix.
Looking at a six-match losing streak and unable to make this year’s ANZ Premiership Finals Series, the Pulse put together their best performance of the season to beat the Tactix 49-45 at Fly Palmy Arena in Palmerston North.
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The Tactix will have to address a slow start against the Pulse and the wobbles on attack which plagued their performance for much of the 60 minutes – the only consolation was a bonus point thanks to a super shot from Amorangi Malesala in the dying seconds of play.
In contrast, the Pulse were playing like a team with the freedom of nothing to lose and they were menacing on defence and accurate with ball in hand on attack.
They lost by five goals when they met the Tactix in Christchurch in Round 2 but haven’t lost to the red-and-blacks in two previous meetings at Fly Palmy Arena and an upset was on the cards early on in a willing match-up.
It was settled line-ups for both teams with Khiarna Williams getting the nod at shooter for the Pulse and Charlie Bell in the same bib for the Tactix.
And in front of a sold-out arena, it was the Pulse which made the stronger start of the two with the first three goals of the game – the visitors taking just over five minutes to get on the board.
There was no easy pathway into the Tactix shooting circle with Holly Comyns shutting down the option into Bell while the battle in the middle between Emma Thompson and Holly Mather promised plenty from the opening whistles.
With just under two minutes in the spell, the Pulse made a surprise change in the shooting circle with Williams moving out to goal attack, in place of captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, and Ine-Mari Venter coming on at shooter – the hosts going into the quarter break with a 10-7 lead.
Under pressure on attack, the errors started to build for the Tactix as they struggled to get ball into the hands of their shooters. At the other end of the court, the pairing of Williams and Venter worked well, opening space on attack and finishing strongly – serviced well by wing Lili Gorman-Brown who put in 21 feeds in the first half.
With the gap at three and having received some medical attention on the bench, Ekenasio returned to the court midway through the spell, replacing Williams at goal attack.
Patience with ball in hand was needed by the Tactix against a smothering Pulse defensive unit as the hosts applied the pressure to re-establish their advantage on the scoreboard, going into the halftime break with a 24-20 advantage.
They continued that defensive pressure early in the third quarter – wing defence Ainsleyana Puleiata causing all sorts of problems for the experienced Tactix wing Gina Crampton – extending their lead to six goals with the Pulse’s attacking unit also delivering without the pressure of previous weeks.
A warning to Tactix centre Holly Mather prompted coach Donna Wilkins to make a late change with Tiana Day replacing the midcourter late in the spell.
Unfazed by a third quarter rally from the Tactix, the hosts – who kept their opponents thinking with Williams reintroduced to the game – maintained their composure and went into the last turn leading 37-34.
