Tag:

ANZ Premiership

2025 ANZ Premiership Round 5 of 10: Northern Mystics continue to reign supreme fair and square v Central Pulse on a rare Sunday night game of Netball at TSB Arena

by Sports Benches June 8, 2025

Well, Mystics may not be able to have Donnell Wallam on the call right now but at least they’re so good at developing their own star-studded goal shooters – very important for the best of the community that extends to all high levels.

Meet Sophia Lafaialii who had one hell of an evening where she’s got the power of accuracy to shoot and spot from up high to hold own GKs even at super shots.

She doesn’t have to be that tall like Donnell or Grace Nweke; it’s all about timing and Sophia did that beautifully where the circle was hers to take home tonight away from home at TSB Arena.

Here’s another Mystics product also shined a light tonight was mid-counter Taylor Earle at centre & she just never stops delivering for the other shooters to clutch in goal after goal including some two pointers. No wonder she’s been doing that all time at a top-winning group like the Mystics who is still by far the team to beat in this ANZP after Round 5 out of 10.

Meanwhile, Pulse looked one-dimensional when they know how to get the ball rolling but then lost their way in between and later ran out of ideas – just like the equivalent Hurricanes in Super Rugby with the Qualifying Final last night v Brumbies.

Not only that some of their selections looked out of place when some of the subs deserved better like Amorangi Malesala and ex-Diamond Gabi Simpson – both of whom with previous Super Netball experience btw, didn’t know that as well.

If one had to win alone, gotta be Gabi having kept guard as part of the Pulse’s good restart momentum in between goal defense and wing defense – even though this match wasn’t completely out of reach at the time. But since no one else were able to close in, Pulse were simply not up to it and not winning at least 1-2 quarters is just a wake up call if they want to win back the ANZP later this year off Mystics.

For now, Mystics too good over Pulse once again like it was before & we never know if they will be back to see each other should this next contest be an upcoming big Final following a clear 13 goal margin by 51-64.

There’s Stars v Magic again for the second straight week tomorrow night but in reverse in Auckland and yes, so close from the Steel who fell short yesterday afternoon to the Tactix by eight goals. Looks like the battle for 3rd is heating up and now it all depends if Tactix can keep this winning form up or it will be Steel’s turn this year – at least Steel ain’t gonna finish last this time and also great to see Silver Ferns mid-courter Kate Heffernan back for a bit from knee injury.

June 8, 2025 0 comment

Other Sports

2025 ANZ Premiership Round 4 of 10: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic secured their first win of the season v Stars by 72-51

by Sports Benches June 2, 2025

Saviour Tui loves scoring goals for fun at goal shoot – always say that when I started following Netball again just a year ago which was simply outstanding.

Since she was there in the week-long training camp to Sydney for the Ferns earlier this year, let’s hope Dame Noeline Taurua can consider Tui later this year.

Standing next to Tui was always consistent & already Silver Fern (even though she’s Aussie!) Claire O’Brien within the Magic squad at Wing Attack who is always constantly involved running to and back with feeds after feeds that got the best of Ameliaranne Ekenasio and tonight’s outstanding goal scorer in Tui.

All in all, it was an encouraging win tonight by Magic making the most out of their chances even though they weren’t at their best. Again, they took advantage of the Stars poor defensive record where their Magic shooters went the distance, having won most of the Quarters except the third.

And MRB short for Mila Relelu-Buchanan did the best she could at the heart of the Stars mid-court engine with okay first 15 followed by a good 3rd quarter alone.

It’s a pity Stars couldn’t connect or were inconsistent at times that can be so frustrating especially when they’ve lost a couple of players in recent times to unfortunately injury. All the Stars can do now is regroup, learn and even though reaching Top 3 may be a tough ask but they have the Magic again this time as the home team same time & day next week.

Final score was 72-51 with the Magic’s first win of 2025 on home front at Globox Arena in Hamilton after Week 4 of 10.

Happening elsewhere, Central Pulse too good for the Southern Steel yesterday afternoon by 70-45 in Invercargill. For the Steel, it wasn’t an easy game as always when they were up against one of the Top 2 teams who were more than certainly bound to end up being Top 2.

And shoutout to veteran goal defender Casey Kopua (nee Williams), who came out of retirement the other day after six years, as an injury replacement for Jodi-Ann Ward at the Giants also in Sydney.

She’s nearly 40 just like former Fern and current Assistant Coach to Wendy at the Steel in Liana Leota where she also came out of retirement albeit for a few mins off the bench when a few of the current players were sidelined back in Round 1.

A sign of the times maybe or maybe not? when their times usually belong to ones present – we’ll see and Casey did play for some time yesterday v the Melbourne Vixens even though Giants lost by 61-71.

June 2, 2025 0 comment

Other Sports

2025 ANZ Premiership Round 3: Mystics stay unbeaten after they lock up Steel at the last minute by a goal difference: 54-55

by Sports Benches May 26, 2025

Versatile experienced shooters and even attackers Filda Vui and Peta Toeava worked wonders that was enough for the Mystics to bump off Steel at the finish line by just a mere one goal difference: 54-55.

Vui can play in any goal circle position even goal shoot despite her lack of 6ft height & so does Toeava also despite lack of height who always know how to bridge those bombs at attacking channels that help Mystics sink in goals at wing attack.

Toeava even played GA for a bit towards the end with Vui upfront when Donnell Wallam had to come off due to a wrist injury (don’t know when, likely to be out of the season) as super shots a necessary requirement now in ANZP. But hey, that seemed to have made the trick indeed – something no one else does bar Mystics.

Meanwhile, Steel unlucky off the back of a flying start where it could’ve been theirs to win if it wasn’t for that poor 3rd quarter run when they oh so close from behind, particularly within the final 15 mins.

That doesn’t mean they are a bad team like 2023 & 2024 and Steel is fortunate enough to have Kimiora Poi inject that dynamic mid-court energy at Centre where her own shooting team of Georgia Heffernan and Aliyah Dunn gets the job done alongside former Mystic Carys Stythe providing that tough hands grab at GK with assistance from her youngsters.

Wait till Kate H comes back from injury hopefully sooner than later so she and Poi can be at their absolute best likewise at International level with the Ferns.

Again, Steel still tipped as outside finalists instead of say the Tactix from last season.

May 26, 2025 0 comment

Other Sports

2025 ANZ Premiership Round 1: Mainland Tactix pulled off final quarter shootout to see out win over Southern Steel

by Sports Benches May 11, 2025

1 week done, 9 more to go plus two extra when it comes to the Finals in this brand-new ANZ Premiership Season for 2025.

Both Tactix and Steel were side-by-side for the most part even though Steel lacked some quality due to injury. But what made one team stood out over the other was the use of subs as well as those tactics/game-plan where one could not see this coming.

What that said, Tactix came from behind by a single goal (26-27) at half-time to closing out on what has been a triumphant victory in front of their home fans, 57-50.

Happening Elsewhere

While the Pulse were comprehensive over the Magic (57-44) yesterday, Mystics also off to a flying start from earlier this afternoon over fellow Auckland side in the Stars (55-71). Gotta feel for those three Stars players being shot down due to injury unfortunately in Kate Burley, Greer Sinclair and Charlie Bell. Don’t know what else to say as this reminds me with Mila Relelu-Buchanan last year when she had a knee injury of her own that took many months to recover from her ACL before she was able to return at the start of this year.

And over in Australia’s Super Netball, glad to see the Swifts still unbeaten who has just wrote off the Melbourne Vixens but not so much for the Giants v SC Lightning.

Yes, Giants did win v Adelaide Thunderbirds last week but maybe T-Birds might’ve had some of their own injury issues & Giants took advantage of it.

Top 3 players

Take a bow Martina Salmon! Yes, she may not have been given the starting nod over Ellie Bird. But hey, her presence within the circle as goal shoot changed everything that the Steel couldn’t stop off-guard including that stunning two-point shot.

If one sub wasn’t enough that turned up the heat for the Tactix, especially when playing at home – how about another in Parris Petera at Wing Attack?

She and Salmon just came over from the Central Pulse btw where Petera & Salmon understood each other and you just cannot underestimate the way Tactix funnelled their passage of play.

They were relived to put this into bed with the good use of the Tactix’s stronghold bench by Donna Wilkins following a competive 2/3rds of tonight’s game that turned into a comfortable last quarter.

Carys Stythe – she has sure tightened up the Southern Steel defense as the mainstay GK now from the championship-winning Mystics. Her towering presence provided real frustration at times to the Tactix where Stythe’s new team gave themselves breathing room to stay on top of things as said with a robust squad that Wendy Frew added in the off-season.

Shoutout also to Liana Leota who just had played a bit of game time in a long time actually even though her main role is to be No.2 assistant coach to Frew. But the only reason why she was there because Steel were short-staffed due to injuries such as the one of the other co-captains in Kate Heffernan.

Although Steel’s boost of quality players has given themselves a fair fight along the way as sure we will that continue – fingers crossed with the group fully fit to take on the rest of this ANZP comp. Unfortunately, they’ve just lacked the right calls as well as the necessary experience required to close out games strong.

May 11, 2025 0 comment

Rugby Other Sports

Black Ferns too good yet again for the Wallaroos in women’s rugby while Central Pulse well clear past Magic in Netball to kickstart the 2025 ANZ Premiership Season

by Sports Benches May 10, 2025

Hats off to the Black Ferns first of all with yet another Trans-Tasman win v the Wallaroos this afternoon in Newcastle.

That’s the team every other top rugby nation wants to emulate which does takes time but hopefully by the home World Cup in 2029, Wallaroos can be sure enough to blow World Rugby away by surprise.

The end goal in the meantime going into this year’s next Women’s RWC later this September is to make the Quarter-Final again at least with the bonus point being an occasional semis run.

They have proved they can win that isn’t against the Black Ferns and sure with the dominant 7s girls looking to help them out but in the XVs, they could achieve that objective after all – we’ll wait and see.

And maybe they could spur up more amazing moments here and there including that cross kick cut that could’ve been any sensational than that in the last minute, even though we know they didn’t win.

For now, lots of additions from the women’s side of the game here like the Trans-Tasman domestic club Super Final, which we could see them play more often like the men currently do in Super Rugby.

More women’s sport? The ANZ Premiership Netball comp in NZ also started today to write the first page of 2025. Gotta say Central Pulse steered well clear off the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic by 55-44 in front of their home supporters – so far, so good. Don’t know what else to say from Magic other than making good use of the new super shots in this comp but they better start planning for the future, that’s all.

There will be an Auckland rivalry going on early tomorrow afternoon with the Mystics and Stars. Interesting to see how the Mystics get on without Nweke but so does the Stars who has a new-look line-up & a new coach.

And of course, Tactix will take on Steel also tomorrow but during the night time in Christchurch. Can’t wait for that and with the Steel also new-look that features a strong group of players coming through, looks like they could be up to either finish 3rd or even split up the Pulse and Mystics.

Steel were champions in the past remember back in 2017 and 2018 although they haven’t been at their best over the past two years but sometimes a new direction has to make sense than continuing as it is & they’ve chosen to go with the latter.

Now it’s up for them to game on all along right from centre pass over the next 10 weeks plus two more if they possibly can.

May 10, 2025 0 comment

Other Sports

A look back on 2024 Fast5 Netball from last weekend and a huge year from Silver Ferns and Netball New Zealand going into 2025

by Sports Benches November 14, 2024

International Netball may be over for now in 2024 but at least we witnessed such a stunning and a bit controversial Fast5 Netball tournament from Christchurch last weekend with the Aussies being crowned champions yet again.

Yes, we had another Trans-Tasman rivalry this time at when both sides advanced into the Cup final beforehand knowing NZ have already beaten Australia several times recently when it comes to the standard version of the game in the Constellation Cup.

NZ were off to good start particularly for most of the first half ahead of the break by nine goals (14-23), but then they’ve lost their way unfortunately whilst leading in the latter stages that allowed Australia to play catch up before they stole the show towards the end by a close four goal gap (34-30) at full-time.

You just never know what could happen in this fast-paced netball format, especially when making the most out of these powerplay features just within that circle line every time it’s active minutes before the end of each quarter – congratulations to the Aussies with the Fast5 championship win for yet another year in 2024.

For now, I guess there won’t be January netball with the Nations Cup over in England. The hosts decided to do things differently right now with a four-match series against Jamaica starting this weekend where the first two games will be at home and the last two being away to the Caribbean much like our Constellation Cup Series with the Diamonds and Silver Ferns.

Although there might still be a possibility of Ferns going to play in Fiji instead alongside the Diamonds, we’ll have to wait and see for that one. For now, it’s been a big year for NZ Netball in 2024 from the Northern Mystics retaining their ANZ Premiership title over their one-goal grand final win v Central Pulse to losing 2-1 v England and now recently won the Trans-Tasman battle including a historic Game 3 away win v Diamonds to reclaim the series trophy.

2025 will be much different though when the Ferns won’t be able to use the services of their star goal shooter Grace Nweke who is now in Sydney to test herself in Super Netball for the NSW Swifts. Let’s hope this will last for at least one season if not two ahead of the 2027 World Cup & who knows if NZ will get their way into Aussie shores at some point once again when it comes to their Trans-Tasman opportunities at Domestic level.

I’d personally like to see a bit more exposure for foreign players coming there (i.e. 2-3 players than 1) that will help improve the current and future Ferns players just like the Aussies have done to them recently by coming over for more game time. But again, we still don’t know what the long-term framework will look like for Netball NZ including their next TV deal from 2026.

And last but not least, it’s been also good looking at Netball once again after being in and out over the past few years – can’t wait to watch this all over again in 2025.

November 14, 2024 0 comment

Other Sports

2024 ANZ Premiership Grand Final: Northern Mystics go back-to-back Champions over the Minor Premiers Central Pulse 53-53 thanks to Grace Nweke’s championship-winning shot

by Sports Benches August 4, 2024

What a Grand Final we had just witnessed from TSB Bank Arena in Wellington through the best 60 minute tug-o-war between Minor Premiers Central Pulse and Defending champions and also last weekend’s Elmination Final winner Northern Mystics. Mystics fired off really well while Pulse overcame their poor start that follows up with an improved 2nd x 15 min performance as Mystics lead by two goals going into half-time, 25-27.

Both teams continued to work so hard whose gap for the overall lead was so close together that went down the wire during the other side of these last half-hour. At the end of the day though, it was the Mystics who got away with another Premiership triumph once again at the very last second by a solitary goal 53-54 thanks to star goal shooter Grace Nweke.

This is the Mystics 3rd title since its inception back in 2017 having first won it during the start of the 2020s in 2021 followed by back-to-back years of dominance including today’s grand final that began last year. After 45 regular round games across 15 weeks as well as 2 season-ending match-ups, we now can’t wait for the home Silver Ferns season beginning with the three-match series v the Vitality Roses from England next month.

Looks like the Silver Ferns is ready to go with the now 3 x championship-winning goal shooter who also just scored the last-second championship-winning shot in 22-year-old Grace Nweke for the Northern Mystics. She too got away with 48 out of 55 shots in front of the circle including three rebounds and four general play turnovers at a total of 87%, especially when it’s never so easy going up against the best of the best in the 2024 ANZ Premiership Grand Final. Congrats to her by the way as go enjoy your GF win!!

Another Mystics player to look out for in this year’s GF is the experienced Peta Toeava at Wing Attack. She also has been outstanding all season where Toeava has been an excellent supportive attacking player that allows her front two to get ahead on the scoring thanks to her excellent physicality and skillset in spite of her height. She racked up 28 goal-assists, 23 centre pass receives & 35 feeds which was amazing as above every time when Toeava got the best out of Grace Nweke & Filda Vui. We don’t know what the future holds for Nweke but Toeava kept the No.1 Mystics cohort strong from 3rd in the regular to ANZ Premiership champions once again.

And Central Pulse Goal Keeper Kelly Jackson gave the Mystics front two attackers a really tough time all along that reflects her natural game where she’s been there and done that many times before at all top levels including International matches following an excellent 2024 campaign as Minor Premiers. She has the tall reach as always to snatch the ball away every time the Mystics looked hesitant, having collected three rebounds and one intercept. It’s just a shame that her side’s attack looked hesitant themselves, particularly in the last few minutes before it was too little, too late.

August 4, 2024 0 comment

Other Sports

Netball News: The 2024 ANZ Premiership Final is all set for next Sunday with Central Pulse v Northern Mystics after the Mystics four-goal win yesterday v Mainland Tactix

by Sports Benches July 27, 2024

Oh so close on what has been a cracking elimination final decider yesterday afternoon between the Mainland Tactix & Northern Mystics at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch. There can only be one winner who will go on to meet the Minor Premiers Central Pulse for next Sunday’s Final at TSB Arena in Wellington while the losing side will have to bow out outside the Top 2. In the end, it was the defending champs Mystics who got away over the Tactix with the four-goal win 64-68.

Now it’s going to be a brilliant finish to the 2024 ANZ Premiership season with one match to go before we look at the Silver Ferns International season starting with England at home (3 x game series) in September.

How good was Katie Te Ao off the bench when she came on to turn the Elimination Final around that puts the Mystics into the Grand Final once again, especially in the last few minutes in the middle of the park for Tayla Earle. She’s really quick alongside her decent height and can also drop down a bit at wing defense too but what’s really good about Te Ao is the way she bridged these ball through the attacking third that gave Grace Nweke (goal shooter) & Filda Vui (goal attack) the run of her money. Keep an eye for her going into next week’s Final whether it’s in the starting seven or as an impact sub.

Then we’ve got the experienced Mystics defender Phoenix Karaka who worked so hard to stop the Tactix from conceding goals whether if she’s at goal keeper or goal defender. Although she was much better though at goal defender where not only she worked well alongside her team-mate Catherine Hall, Karaka also got the best out of her defensive abilities including five intercepts every time the Tactix unable to find their own like Ellie Bird to shoot through the circle. The work isn’t done yet as Karaka hopes to bring home another Grand Final win for the Mystics despite finishing 3rd in the regular season.

And great to see Ellie Bird given the nod as goal shooter after being frozen out during the last regular season game v Pulse. She too knows how to get going thanks to her experience and tall physical frame that puts the Tactix on the front foot. It’s a shame that a couple of attacking handling errors & incomplete passes unfortunately gave the ball away, especially in the last few minutes before it was too little, too late. Bird came out of retirement this season, so interesting to see if she will stick around or just help out soon enough.

It’s been a good season though for the most part by the Tactix thanks to their experienced defense as wish Marianne Delaney-Hoshek the best of luck with a new coach set to take over going into the 2025 season.

July 27, 2024 0 comment

Other Sports

ANZ Premiership: Central Pulse go straight into the Grand Final alongside the Minor Cup after a 14-goal win over the Mainland Tactix

by Sports Benches July 22, 2024

The regular phase of the 2024 ANZ Premiership Netball season is now over after 15 weeks across 45 games as we turn our attention to the last two Playoff games that will set up a brilliant finish for the Grand Final where there can only be one winner to take home the major championship come Sunday 4th August.

This last regular-season match belongs to the Pulse fair and square where they’ve started so well off the back of an unbeaten first-half run that puts them into a decent lead up front by nine goal at half-time, 31-22. Yes, the Tactix did win the 3rd quarter alone, having began to play catch-up as the game isn’t over yet with a six-point trail (42-36) going into the final quarter.

But then that comeback was short lived off the back of the Tactix’s poor attacking play and tactics as Pulse went on to extend their lead as further as they can towards the end with a 14-goal win, 58-44. Not only the Pulse won the minor premiership, they too now go straight into the Grand Final with a two-week rest. For now, it’s all eyes in the Elimination Final this weekend — it’s either going to be the Tactix again who had to finish 2nd on the ladder or defending champions Northern Mystics after they safeguarded 3rd over the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic thanks to their final round win v Stars.

Tiana Meruarau has been unbelievable that kept the Pulse ticking tonight at goal attack as her side is now going straight into the grand final with the minor premiership. She’s blessed with the strong defense led by skipper Kelly Jackson off the back of the Tactix’s poor conversion play where Tiana knows where to find her shooter while she can shoot from a far whenever it’s convenient in order to get the job done into the net. She had 10 centre pass receives, 30 feeds, 6 goals and 21 goal assists that reflected her huge impact for the Pulse. The job is not done yet where a huge final win would give her the chance to translate her game for the Silver Ferns soon enough later this year.

Gotta say Maddy Gordon kept the game going for the Pulse in the middle even though she didn’t start the game due to her recent return from injury, especially when her side got away unscathed towards the end with the win. She never stops running around that gave attackers the chance to get as many goals as she can every time Jackson and co. stopped the Tactix in its tracks. Out of the 43 minutes she played tonight, she had 12 goal assists & 21 feeds – which was good work being paid off. Yes, heard she came off sore; but surely that won’t affect her too much since she’s on managed minutes with a two-week rest time before the Final.

And Jane Watson did the best she can to stop the Pulse from scoring who stood her ground as always defensively behind the goal posts for the Tactix. She isn’t afraid to steal the ball from up high with a couple of intercepts/turnover being recorded that gave her team the chance to get things done at the other end including that improved 3rd quarter after half-time. It’s just a shame really that the Tactix’s attacking play is not good tonight where they were so far behind for the most part as getting Ellie Bird on until the last few minutes really cost them before it was even over. Tactix do have a 2nd chance though but need to win v Northern Mystics first in the Elimination Final this Saturday.

July 22, 2024 0 comment

Other Sports

2024 ANZ Premiership R14/15: Northern Stars hold off the Southern Steel after a successful late tussle with the one goal win

by Sports Benches July 15, 2024

It’s been oh so close between the 5th v 6th/bottom two teams in the Northern Stars & Southern Steel to finish off Round 14 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership Season in Dunedin with one last regular season round remaining this weekend. Steel always off to a great start but it was the Stars who held them up throughout the first half where they were one goal up at half-time, 27-28.

Although Steel again rebounded as if the start repeated itself with some really good improvements that gave them a two-goal advantage at three quarter time (41-39), but just couldn’t hold on a bit longer towards the end there unfortunately. At the end of the day, it was Stars with the win once again by just a solitary goal to close the second last round of the 2024 season, 53-54.

First of all, skipper Maia Wilson had an amazing night as the main Northern Stars shooter. She netted a near perfect accuracy towards goal of 97%, having missed only one shot out of 39 attempts throughout the night v Steel. Yes, Stars may be low on possession but gotta credit her team’s defense on exposing the Steel’s isolated attack before Maia was able to get the job done with the net right in front of her off the back of a brilliant counter-attack feed through the channels. It led to a good few points lead at the half-time break followed by an excellent end with the win as although things may not be the same this year when it comes to the Top 3 down in 5th, but Maia is always going places including at International level for the Silver Ferns.

Here’s another standout Stars player this time in the back three tonight in Kate Burley at goal keeper who is flexible amongst multiple defensive roles along with her excellent physicality and athleticism to deflect one away from the net at her own danger zone. She had really great start actually that made the Steel front three so hesitant under pressure before Kate was able to throw onto the other side where goals coming her way for the most part including that crucial final few minutes with three rebounds of her own including three intercepts for the best of the Stars. When she came off, the Steel were a couple of goals ahead where the Stars began to slip away at one stage. However, glad she saved the day when she can back on to help steer victory once again for the Stars with unfinished business ahead in the hope of returning to its former glory in 2025.

Now it might not have taken that long to settle in for Serina Daunakamakama in the south when she was at the Northern Mystics as a training partner earlier this season but she had another great game though that reflects her progress within the senior level at Wing Attack. She picked up as many balls as possible with the most feeds of 36 in order to find her front two thanks to her team’s good start on top of a good defense as usual alongside skipper Kate Heffernan in the mid-court. That way, Georgia Heffernan and Grace Namama can help finish things off within the circle where the Steel were so close of winning this one again off the back of an improved 3rd quarter. But then the Stars’s scrambled defense proved so difficult for them in the end where mistakes were being made made under pressure before the Stars stole the show even if it’s by a small margin, particularly in the last few mins on what has been another difficult year to end up 6th & last once again for the Steel.

And lastly, wishing Reigna Bloxam all the best ahead of her last game as the Steel head coach this weekend v the Magic after giving back for so long before she heads off overseas while a new era awaits in the hope the Steel can rejuvenate next season.

July 15, 2024 0 comment