Pulse make storming come back to defeat Stars

Photo/Supplied (Michael Bradley Photography)

Pulse 46
Stars 36

The Pulse scored a storming come-from-behind 46-36 win over the Stars in Auckland on Saturday.

Now set to play their first game at home next weekend, the Pulse put the polish on a gruelling two weeks of back-to-back matches. Having to dig deep against the gallant Stars, who pushed the defending champions all the way, the Pulse produced a rampant finish to dash their opponent's hopes.

Once again, the injection of Tiana Metuarau, at wing attack, paid off in spades for the Pulse. Trailing by two heading down the home straight, Metuarau helped get the movement back into the Pulse’s attacking end.

That resulted in more ball getting into shooter Aliyah Dunn’s hands, the sharp-shooter producing a player of the match performance with a 28/31 return as the Pulse completely shut the Stars out to the tune of 16-4 in the last quarter.

The Stars added plenty of value to the match but were unable to stay with their opposites for the duration after making an impressive fist of it for three-quarters.

Finding their feet in the opening exchanges, both teams were seamless with their transition through court in a goal-for-goal start. However, opportunities soon opened up for the defenders as Kate Burley and Storm Purvis put the squeeze on the Pulse shooters.

There was a similar pattern at the other end with Katrina Rore and Kelly Jury making life difficult under the Stars' hoop. Getting more ball into the hands of prolific shooter Maia Wilson, it was the Stars who won the plaudits in the first quarter when leading 11-8.

The Pulse turned up the defensive intensity on the resumption, resulting in an evening up of the possession stakes. The team defence of the Pulse, with Jury getting a number of deflections, restricted the Stars attacking momentum while creating a flurry of turnover opportunities.

A run of five straight goals helped the Pulse grind their way into the lead in an increasingly rugged match. The pressure exerted from both sides provided mini momentum swings each way with the Stars regaining the lead and then losing it again during 12 riveting minutes of closely-contested netball.

The league’s most accurate shooter, Dunn, proved her worth under the Pulse’s hoop, completing a clean sheet with 11/11 from the first half, providing plenty of movement and picking up a couple of turnovers for good measure.

The Pulse turned the tables to take a narrow 21-19 lead at halftime.

The Stars showed they were far from done, lifting the intensity with a forceful showing during the third quarter. Smothering defensive pressure from the Stars prevented the Pulse from playing their natural free-flowing game and forcing the defending champions into error.

Wilson remained a key figure under the Stars' hoop, showing all her class to take every second pass while setting up the circle and sinking most of the opportunities that came her way from close and long-range.

Former team-mates and respective centres Claire Kersten (Pulse) and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan had a titanic battle through all areas of the court but it was the Stars who drew level early on before slipping into the lead, keeping their noses in front to take a 32-30 lead at the last turn of a riveting match-up.

Official Result and Stats:

Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse: 46  Robinhood Northern Stars: 36

Shooting Stats - Pulse

Ameliaranne Ekenasio 18/19 (94.7%)

Aliyah Dunn 28/31(90.3%)

Shooting Stats - Stars:

Maia Wilson: 29/35 (82.9%)

Jamie Hume 7/13 (53.8%)

MVP: Aliyah Dunn (Pulse)