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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

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.

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ANZ Premiership: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic sensational to put themselves inside the Top 3 bubble after their 42-54 win over the Northern Mystics with four rounds to go

by Sports Benches

Another great game of Monday Night Netball to finish off Round 11 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership at The Trusts Arena in Auckland with another Northern Mystics-Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic contest. The first quarter was close enough by the two sides but it was the Magic who has been in cruise control for the majority before they got themselves out of here with a big win as well as the move to 3rd now on the ladder with four rounds to go. Magic led the Mystics by 12 points (18-30) going into half-time and nothing much has happened where Magic kept on scoring before they won also by 12 points (42-54).

Hard to see Mystics fall way out of reach despite a good start including winning the 4th quarter alone when Magic needed to slow things down but their poor passage of play, ill-discipline and using players in and out of the bench ultimately cost them the game as they now sit just outside the Top 3 in 4th. Magic will be up next against another Auckland side in the Northern Stars this Saturday afternoon at home while Mystics will travel to Christchurch on Sunday v the No.1 Mainland Tactix team.

Georgia Takarangi is the Magic defensive engine who can turn things around in an instant at goal defense every time the Mystics struggled to find some ground through to their own shooters. She never stopped grasping this time & time again so Georgia give her mid-courters the chance to get things done at the other end & voila! her side has been exceptional from start to finish including a comfortable lead and win up front. Credit to her natural physical game where she was able to slide her way from out of nowhere & also up high through the poor Mystics passage of play on what has been a magical win tonight that moves them up to 3rd now on the ladder & hopefully play Finals this year with four regular weeks to go.

Then the well-traveled Claire O’Brien also had a terrific performance on her 50th national game at wing attack for the Magic. She is someone who benefited from her side’s brilliant back three defense and Ariana Cable-Dixon in the mid-court, having been an excellent feeder with the ball on hand to her front two shooters where goals were made there towards the inside circle. She’s happy to be here in Waikato after playing for so many clubs over the years but sure she will use the experience and setbacks to push her side towards a brilliant end to the 2024 season with a possible Finals run now possible.

And Filda Vui did the best she can to keep the Mystics ticking at goal assist. She has a brilliant eye both from a shooting and natural game standpoint even though she might not be the tallest up front, but is always an excellent team player where she knows what’s best to get the Mystics over the shooting net. But it’s unfortunate that the Mystics poor passage of play, plenty of ill-discipline and endless chopping and changing from the bench wasn’t her team’s night – not even the injury cloud hasn’t helped them that much despite seeing Grace Nweke back on-court as they now sit just outside the Top 3 Finals bubble in 4th.

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2024 ANZ Premiership Netball News, Mystics too good tonight with Magic’s 2nd half turnaround not enough after their poor start

by Sports Benches

There was twists and turns to finish off Week 6 of 15 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership Netball season on a Monday night in Auckland where the Northern Mystics well clear past Bay of Plenty Magic with the win 54-44.

First two quarters saw the Mystics score as many as 16-18 while the Magic struggled to stop their opponents or the formidable attacking three in its tracks going into the break 34-16 – that’s a huge difference of 18 points between the two teams. Yes, the Magic began to rebound with back-to-back 2nd quarter leads alone thanks to a series of changes off the bench even but still fell short where their key player Ameliaranne Ekanasio unexpectedly had to sit out due to illness forced the Mystics hand who didn’t waste any time closing the game down towards the final whistle.

Hats off to Peta Toeava with her outstanding performance tonight at wing attack of 23 goal assists & 50 feeds for the Mystics who provides a great supply for her two attackers to get the job inside the circle. She might not be tall but has a an excellent read that benefited her front three alongside an exceptional level of fitness and physicality after causing the Magic so much trouble on the court. Next up is another Mystics player Tayla Earle where she too worked well together with Toeava in the middle that ensured the Mystics destructive shooting structure at the end of the day with a big win. She not only kept a great eye on the Magic defensively but also showed her versatility further up the court in attack thanks to her wonderful skillsets & communication. Gotta say that the Northern Mystics was too good with a top quality first half start even though they were aware that the Magic can crawl back later on but that didn’t bother them a lot thanks to a 10-point win. They will now be heading off to Dunedin this Sunday v Southern Steel who is sitting last right now which shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

And Saviour Tui has done so much to put the Magic on the map as the leading goal shooter after she scored the most goals tonight at 31 out of 36 attempts with a highest overall percentage of 86%. She’s so tall with a brilliant attitude who will always get the job done from close range & also as with lots more to come after she swapped for the South to Waikato in 2024. But then as said, she had to take up the heavy lifting when the Magic’s poor first half defense & a lack of link-up play including no Ameliaranne Ekenasio due to illness saw them collapse left, right and centre. Magic may be staying 4th for now on the ladder but still have a long way to go & get Top 3 that would guarantee them Finals with the Central Pulse next up on Saturday.

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