Mojo Pulse Gain Valuable Court Time in Sydney Shootout

Mojo Pulse Gain Valuable Court Time in Sydney Shootout

Media Release
8 February 2015
Mojo Pulse Head Coach Robyn Broughton was pleased to see her team gain some valuable court-time at this weekend’s ANZ Championship Pre-Season Summer Shootout, which she felt was extremely worthwhile.

“We’ve won some, lost some and drawn some, but it’s been worthwhile,” she explained, at the end of the three-day tournament held at the brand new multi-million dollar Netball Central complex at Sydney’s Olympic Park.

The Pulse played 15-minute quarters against the Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever, and a modified version of the game against the New South Wales Swifts, Southern Steel and Northern Mystics, with the format shortened to two 15-minute halves.

“Everybody’s been on court. Senior players have had a good run, but we’ve been cautious with niggles and limited their time to half a game each today,” said Broughton talking from Sydney at the end of the final game.

“The weekend has given the players an opportunity to improve connections and it’s been good for them to practice their ball placement.”

There were some intense moments over the three days, including a thrilling end to the game against the Thunderbirds. Pulse Goal Shoot Jodi Brown scoring two goals in the final seconds of the match to draw the game 42-all.

The team started day two with a modified game against the Swifts and in a game of two halves, the Swifts dominated the first 15 minutes. The Pulse then closed in on them before the interval, thanks to a series of wayward passes from the Swifts and some sharp shooting once again from new recruit Brown.

Wins against two New Zealand sides, the Steel and Mystics, provided a glimpse of future local battles in this season’s new ANZ Championship conference format.

Broughton gave credit to her team’s defence. “This weekend has shown we have one of the strongest defensive line-ups with Katrina, Hu, Jols and Ama. They’ve been extremely good at turning the ball over.

“We still need to do a little work at the attacking end; they need to work on some familiarity and need to get the ball through the hoop,” she added.

The Summer Shootout concluded with another nail-biter as the Pulse took on the unbeaten Fever. The Western Australians trailed by two goals after the first quarter, but rallied to take the lead in the second, ending the first half 21-17.

The Fever continued their lead into the second half, but were caught off guard by strong defensive play to bring the teams level with nine minutes to go. They quickly regained their lead, with Broughton choosing to bring on the young guns under the guidance of former ANZ Championship MVP Liana Leota, after captain Katrina Grant left the court with a slight tweak to her ankle. The final score was 52-41 to the Australian side.

“It’s been good for the young ones. It’s been good for them to know how it is. This weekend has given me confidence in our game going into this season’s ANZ Championship,” concluded Broughton.

2015 ANZ Championship Pre-Season Summer Shootout Results:

Mojo Pulse v Adelaide Thunderbirds
Q1: Thunderbirds 9-8 Pulse
Q2: Thunderbirds 20-17 Pulse
Q3: Thunderbirds 31-29 Pulse
Q4: 42-all

Mojo Pulse v New South Wales Swifts
HT: Swifts 14-5 Pulse
FT: Swifts 25-19 Pulse

Mojo Pulse v Southern Steel
HT: Pulse 18-18 Steel
FT: Pulse 34-31 Steel

Mojo Pulse v Mystics
HT: Pulse 12-11 Mystics
FT: Pulse 26-24 Mystics

Mojo Pulse v Fever
Q1: Pulse 12-10 Fever
Q2: Fever 21-17 Pulse
Q3: Fever 32-31 Pulse
Q4 Fever 52-41 Pulse

The Mojo Pulse face a double header against the 2014 ANZ Championship title holders the Melbourne Vixens this Friday at Te Rauparaha Arena, in Porirua and on Saturday at the ASB Sports Centre, in Kilbirnie. Centre pass is at 7.30pm and 4pmrespectively.

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