The Central Pulse have continued their unbeaten run in the ANZ netball premiership, beating the Northern Mystics 60-38 in Auckland tonight.
Pulse's Tiana Metuarau takes a pass with Tactix Temalisi Fakahokotau. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The relentless Pulse swept past the Mystics to record a sixth straight win while inflicting the Mystics' biggest ANZ Premiership loss.
In the process a number of young Pulse players upstaged their more experienced opposition in a number of positions.
In her debut season, rookie shooter Aliyah Dunn continued to impress with a standout 39 from 42 return, while goal attack Ameliaranne Ekenasio provided a strong second half cameo with 16 from 18.
With no Maria Folau for this match, Jamie Hume assumed the goal attack role for the Mystics while the Pulse remained with the successful and settled line-up which has delivered so far this campaign.
It was a goal-for-goal start, the young Pulse attacking end facing a stiff challenge from the international trio of Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Phoenix Karaka and Anna Harrison.
But after absorbing everything the Mystics could muster, the visitors slowly picked up the intensity.
Playing a strong feeding role, goal attack Tiana Metuarau found her target in Dunn as the teenaged shooting pair struck the right notes.
At the other end, the long reach and speed of wing defence Karin Burger had an unsettling influence on diminutive and elusive Mystics wing attack Elispeta Toeava, opening the door for the Pulse to swoop.
Showing their intuitive understanding under the hoop, Metuarau and Dunn moved into punishing mode, the Pulse jumping out to an 18-12 lead at the end of a high-scoring first quarter.
The classy in-circle pairing of Pulse captain Katrina Grant and Sulu Fitzpatrick had a suffocating presence, and continued to generate turnovers through out.
The Pulse skipped out to a 31-18 lead at the main break and the Pulse continued to dictate.
