Pulse return solid effort in first hit-out

Pulse return solid effort in first hit-out

A testing six-quarter workout left coach Tanya Dearns satisfied the Central Pulse are headed in the right direction five weeks out from the start of the ANZ Championship netball league.

Following a fast-paced, willing and entertaining 90-minute contest, the well-credentialed Cold Power Magic took control of the final three stanzas to record an 84-71 win in Napier on Saturday. But there was plenty of encouraging signs for the Pulse in their first hit-out of the pre-season, the team more than holding their own during the first three-quarters of the encounter.

Magic powered on the pressure against an inexperienced Pulse line-up during the fourth and fifth stanzas before the home side made a late rally to win the final quarter.

``We got an opportunity to try players out there and give others a taste of the speed. Some took a little longer to settle than I would have liked but that’s okay because that’s what these games are all about,’’ Dearns said.

``I was really pleased that we managed to get our babies on (Kate Wells and Blaze Leslie) and they held their own.

``On the whole I think we were pretty good in terms of our error rate through the first three-a-half quarters. It was just the fourth and fifth that let us down.’’

With seven changes from last year’s line-up, the Pulse took time to slip into their rhythm, both teams showing some wobbly early season form before turning on some slick and enterprising play in a typical derby atmosphere between two New Zealand rivals.

The game was punctuated by a high quality brand of netball, only losing some of its structure as the players tired in the final throes of the sixth stanza. All players from both teams were given decent court time, the game ebbing and flowing at times depending on the level of experience on show.

For the Pulse, captain Katrina Grant led from the front with a storming start, forming a potent defensive wall with Phoenix Karaka and Australian import Jacinta Messer. There was plenty of ball movement and flair on attack for the Pulse, former Australian international Chelsea Locke in the thick of the action with strong support from veteran shooter Jodi Brown and Ameliaranne Wells.

With a host of new players and new to the coaching role herself, Dearns was happy with the outcome of the processes and structures the team had been working on in recent weeks.

``We had combinations out there that have not had a lot of time together and we were trialling some stuff today, as well, around the new rules. That’s our first hit-out and it takes time to build that confidence, comfort and familiarity with each other out on court,’’ she said.

The Pulse play their second pre-season match against the Northern Mystics in New Plymouth next Sunday.

ENDS

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