Fourth Quarter (Final Score) Stars 39 Pulse 63
Temu shows she feels comfortable in the GK position, getting an intercept in the stars circle. This last quarter has been the closet when it come to goals, with Pulse scoring 11 and Stars scoring 10.... asking the question if the shooting combo which they put on last may have been the most effective ?
The Stars will want to work out what to change before tomorrow, when they have to face the Tactix.
10 Mins: Stars 38 Pulse 63
Kersten gives a hard ball to Ekenasio whens not ready for it, giving the Stars to shoot of a Pulse ball which they do. The Stars are wanting to keep away from that 30 point difference.
8 Mins: Stars 37 Pulse 60
Highest goal count for the ANZ Premiership this whole season with the Pulse hitting the 60 mark.
6 Mins: Stars 34 Pulse 58
The Pulse are now in a place to give their youger players a go on the court. Jury has gone off for the Pulse, giving Temu a runaround, Gorgon has also done her dash, with Metuarau coming on.
4 Mins: Stars 32 Pulse 56
Jury again is working her defensive magic down the Stars shooting circle. Gordon makes a nice save down the shooting end and delivers nicely to Ekenasio.
2 Mins: Stars 31 Pulse 54
Renee Savai'inaea coming on for the Pulse at WD, while Vika Koloto has come on to shoot for the Stars.
Third Quarter Stars 29 Pulse 52
At the end of the third quarter, Ameliaranne Ekenasio is still on 100% slotting all 16 of her attempts. Northern Stars showing they are really missing the experience which they lost at the end of last season.
10 Mins: Stars 28 Pulse 49
Last years champs are provong they are as hungry as ever to win that title again. All players are chasing every loose ball, and backing each other up. Gordon showing she feels at home in that WA position.
8 Min: Stars 26 Pulse 45
Karin Burger being a stand out player in that WD position. Constant hussle on the Stars attacking players.
6 Min: Stars 24 Pulse 45
We've reached the 20 goal point difference.
4 Min: Stars 23 Pulse 40
Stars finally get their first goal for the quarter. Pulse are making a few errors which is giving Stars the opportunities to score but they don't seem to want the chances.
2 Min: Stars 22 Pulse 38
Pulse start us off for the third quarter. Jury has intercept the ball in the Stars circle. Purvis gets an intercept down the Pulses end but Pulse gets it back.
Changes: Lisa Mather is coming on as centre for the Stars while Oceane Maihi comes into the GK spot.
Last time these two teams met was in the Grand Final last year, where the Pulse won by 4. Totally different game today.
*****
Second Quarter Stars 21 Pulse 35
Jurys landed on the ground with a bang but seems to get up fine.
Star's coach Kiri Wills is going to need to make changes if she wants to close the 13 goal margin. Pulse on a roll which the Stars are struggling to put an end to.
The last two games of this round have been even at half time, but not in this game.
10 Min: Stars 19 Pulse 31
Rore and Jury is making the Star's shooters to shot from further out. Hume on 71%and Wilson on 82%.
8 Min Stars 18 Pulse 27
Lovely intercept from Jury which leads to another goals down the Pulse end. Stars let ball roll out down shooting end, again leads to another goal. Goal margin now closer to 10 than 5
6 Min: Stars 18 Pulse 23
Wilson misses a long shot but Hume is there for the rebound and scores. But slots her next nicely.
4 Min: Stars 15 Pulse 19
Pulse shooting getting themselves in great shooting positions. Stars passing errors and the Pulses shooting accuracy has got them back up by 4.
2 Min: Stars 15 Pulse 16
Going into this quarter, Pulse still on 100% shooting. No changes from either side. Stars centre pass. Nice run along the baseline from Wilson and shes scores making it even. Now going goal for goal.
*****
First Quarter Stars 13 Pulse 14
Jury being called for contact as she tries to disrupt Wilson's holds. Burly gets an intercept and in the Pulses circle and wins the contest, but Stars fail to score off it. To delay play, Pulses C Kersten contacts just outside the circle with 3 second on the clock. She gets a warning and the Stars are allowed to shoot from just inside the circle which Wilson lands.
10 Min: Stars 10 Pulse 12
Two intercepts from each side has got the ball going up and down the court. First by the stars then Rore gaining it back. Wilson's lovely hold is making is easy for Star feeders to get her right under the post.
8 Min: Stars 7 Pulse 10
Stars have managed to close the gap after some errors from the passing in the Pulse Mid court. Wilson getting her confidence up and has landed 5 out of her 6 goals.
6 Min: Stars 5 Pulse 9
The stars shooting is letting them down with both Wilson and Hume missing one each. While he Pulse are getting 100%
4 Min: Stars 2 Pulse 7
Stars manage to get the board by scoring 2 goals, while the pulse rise to 7
2 min: Stars 0 Pulse 3
And the Pulse start us off this evening, scoring off their own pass and also the Stars first centre pass. The Pulse get first 3 goals of the game. Wilson gets first shooting attempt for the Stars yet misses.
*****
Starting line-ups for tonight's game:
STARS: GS-Maia Wilson, GA-Jamie Hume, WA-Grace Kara, C-Mia Reuelu-Buchanan, WD-Fa'amu Ioane, GD-Kate Burley, GK-Storm Purvis
PULSE: GS-Aliyah Dunn, GA-Ameliaranne Ekenasio, WA-Maddy Gordon, C-Claire Kersten, WD-Karin Burger, GD-Katrina Rore, GK-Kelly Jury
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the ANZ Premiership clash, where Northern Stars will take on last year's winners Central Pulse at Auckland's Netball Centre.
The last time these teams met was in the Grand Final last year, where the Pulse came out on top by four goals.
Central Pulse have featured in every final since the competition was established in 2017 and finally managed to win the title at home in Wellington.
As this is only round two of the season, both teams have played one game before lockdown. The Pulse started their 2020 campaign the right way, with a comfortable win by 12 over Canterbury Tactix, while the Stars fell short of Northern Mystics by four.
The Pulse have an experienced team with Silver Fens throughout the court, featuring the likes of Katrina Rore and Karin Burger down the defensive end, and Ameliaranne Ekenasio in the shooting circle.
Northern Stars don't have as many capped players, but shouldn't be underestimated. Players like Maia Wilson and Storm Purvis were both part of the 2017 Youth World Cup-winning side, and bring experience and confidence to the side. The Stars also have signed Daystar Swift, who is a 1.91m defender from the Trinidad & Tobago international team. Swift's height is a key factor for the team.
Centre pass is just after 5pm.
Northern Stars: Daystar Swift, Fa’amu Loane, Grace Kara, Jamie Hume, Kate Burley, Lisa Mather, Maia Wilson, Mil Reuelu-Buchanan, storm Purvis, Vika Koloto.
Central Pulse: Aliyah Dunn, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Claire Kersten, Elle Temu, Karin Burger, Katrina Rore, Kelly Jury, Maddy Gordon, Renee Savai’inaea, Tiana Metuarau
