Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse have finally etched their name in New Zealand netball history as the 2019 ANZ Premiership
champions.
Putting the nightmare of last year’s final behind them – where they lost their grasp on the trophy in the final minutes
– the Pulse held off a valiant Northern Stars to take out the Grand Final, 52-48, a just reward for a rapturous home
crowd in Porirua.
The Pulse have been in every final in the past three years, but this time they held strong, making their break in the
third quarter, then keeping the Stars at arm’s length throughout the fourth.
The home team performed an emotional haka on court at the end of an intense 60 minutes, and then shed tears of joy when
the reality of their victory flooded over them.
Both sides brought skill, passion and pride to the final, but it was the Pulse – minor premiers and a team who had only
grown stronger from last season’s disappointment – who triumphed.
For the Stars, a team only three years in existence, it was another fearless effort, and marked the end of three
enduring careers – Temepara Bailey, Leana de Bruin and Ellen Halpenny.
The Stars began with the same line-up they started with in their Elimination Final victory five days before. And there
were no surprises in the starting seven for the Pulse, who hadn’t played a match in 14 days.
It was a strong start from the Stars, who announced their intentions by contesting every ball, but the Pulse were quick
to respond, and established the first three-goal lead six minutes into the match.
Although Ameliaranne Ekenasio struggled to find her range, her shooting partner Aliyah Dunn was quickest to the rebounds
under the Pulse hoop. And with Sulu Fitzpatrick reading the game beautifully on defence, the difference stretched to
five.
But the clever, reliable hands of veteran defender de Bruin put the Stars back into the reckoning, cutting the deficit
to two, 12-10, by the end of the first quarter.
Tiana Metuarau replaced Ekenasio at goal attack to get the Pulse’s second quarter assault underway, and the young
shooting duo showed their innate understanding, with Metuarua deftly feeding Dunn. Katrina Rore picked up a crucial
intercept which triggered another Pulse surge – taking the gap back out to six.
But the Stars weren’t going to be outdone, and another sharp de Bruin intercept sent them on a run of four, bringing it
back to a two-goal ballgame, which they held right until halftime, when the Pulse led 27-25.
Bailey was setting up Maia Wilson superbly under the Stars goal, and in the third quarter moved from centre to wing
attack, allowing Holly Fowler into the game.
The Stars continued their charge, as Kayla Cullen stormed through the court to collect an important tip, and Charlee
Hodges finished it off with another accurate long shot. Suddenly, the Stars had drawn even, 30-all.
But the Pulse, no doubt driven by the packed Porirua crowd and the threatening score-line, found their rhythm again.
Under the influence of captain Rore, they poured the pressure on the Stars and went on another offensive to lead by six,
40-34, at the three-quarter break.
Desperate to stay in touch, the Stars switched back to their original midcourt combination of Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and
Bailey. They refused to let the Pulse take control of the game and matched them goal for goal right through the last 15
minutes.
With Dunn standing strong, on 93 percent accuracy, and Ekenasio finally finding her range, the Pulse just held off the
Stars for as long as it took to secure the victors’ trophy.
Official Result and Stats:
Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse: 52
Northern Stars: 48
Shooting Stats - Pulse:
Aliyah Dunn 40/43 (93%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio 12/19 (63%)
Shooting Stats - Stars:
Maia Wilson 34/41 (83%)
Charlee Hodges 14/20 (70%)
Grand Final MVP: Katrina Rore (Pulse)