Central Pulse have continued their march towards the ANZ Premiership playoffs, with a composed display across the court to defeat Mainland Tactix 62-49 at Wellington.
While the Tactix had bursts of intensity, the Pulse were unrelenting, with co-captains Tiana Metuarau and Kelly Jury leading by example at opposite ends of the court.
The Pulse look certain to make the postseason, putting themselves in a strong position to challenge table-topping Northern Mystics for the title of minor premiers.
The tussle between goal attack Metuarau and Tactix goal defence Karin Burger lived up to the hype, but Metuarau had the upper hand from the start - her exceptional feeding, rebounding and shooting commanded the Pulse attack.
A run of three with five minutes to go put the Pulse in a strong position, after the Tactix made a series of costly mistakes off their centre passes.
The Pulse were also guilty of simple errors, allowing the Tactix to close within spitting distance, 14-12, at the end of the first spell.
The seesawing continued in the second quarter, with the Pulse racing out to a five-goal advantage, only for the Tactix to reel it back to one. In the midcourt, captain Kimiora Poi led by example, despite some aggressive opposition from Pulse opposite Erikana Pedersen.
But then the Pulse defence ratcheted up to the next level right through court, smothering the Tactix, who were forced to look backwards as much as they did forwards. That allowed the Pulse to cut off the flow to Tactix shooters Ellie Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rickit, with goal keep Kristiana Manu’a at her spoiling best, earning MVP honours.
A stunning run of eight suddenly put the Pulse out to a nine-goal lead, denying the Tactix a goal for five minutes, so the Tactix brought on fresh legs, introducing Kate Lloyd at goal keep and Vika Koloto at wing attack.
But at halftime, the difference was into double digits - 32-22 in the home side’s favour.
The Tactix came back firing at the start of the third quarter, but the Pulse were unrelenting - especially goal defence Jury, who made life difficult for Bird and read the game adeptly, making three intercepts and six deflections by three-quarter time.
Metuarau continued to dominate on attack, throwing herself into everything, unafraid to put up shots and standing strong under the hoop for any rebounds.
Lily Fletcher entered the game for the Tactix at wing defence just before the break, but by then, the difference had crept out to 12, the Pulse up 48-36.
Again the Tactix returned to the court with passion, their defence forcing the Pulse to hold the ball too long looking for options.
A run of five for the Tactix near the end of the game brought the gap momentarily back within single digits, but the Pulse showed no signs of tiring and pushed it out again.
Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie brought her bench on court to soak up the roar of the crowd for the final minutes.
