The Robinhood Stars have advanced to their second straight ANZ Premiership grand final after an enthralling 53-52 triumph over the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in the elimination final in Porirua.
In a rematch of last year’s grand final – the Stars ventured into enemy territory spurred by the nightmare of last season’s heavy loss to their opponents and confident they could do the job when it mattered most.
Both teams made a measured start to the contest, with the Stars looking polished and composed with ball in hand, scoring some well worked goals led by their mid-court magicians Gina Crampton and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan.
Goals were traded back and forth in the open half of the first quarter, before some errors crept in from both teams. The Stars forced some turnovers from constant pressure at the defensive end led by Elle Temu, but couldn’t quite convert those chance into two goal runs.
The Pulse held a narrow lead at the end of a tense opening quarter – ahead 14-12.
The Stars came out hunting for ball like a pack of lionesses in the Savanna in the second quarter and had immediate success with back to back forced turnovers, but frustratingly they couldn’t turn their hard work into goals.
The Pulse regathered their composure and went on a solid run of scoring from their centre pass, while the Stars remained clinical off theirs as well.
Maia Wilson was rock solid under the goal for the Stars in the first half – enjoying an intense battle with Pulse captain Kelly Jury.
With both teams having similar success at the shooting ends, it appeared defence was going to be the difference between the winning and losing of the game.
A late run from the Pulse gave them a 29-25 lead at half-time.
The Stars came out firing in the third quarter as they have done for much of the season. Knowing a slow start could see the game slip out of their grasp, the Stars showed cohesiveness and flair with the ball, scoring goals at will and turning up the heat on defence.
The Pulse began to crack and with the Stars nipping at their heals, mistakes crept in and the Stars made their opportunities count, as they suddenly had tied the game.
The Stars continued to surge and with momentum well in their favour extended their lead, crucially winning the quarter 16-8 to lead 41-37 at three-quarter time.
Composure was to be key in the deciding quarter if the Stars were to come away with victory. The held their heads with passes sticking and Amorangi Malesala and Wilson calm in front of goal as the Pulse desperately tried to find a way back.
Tensions peaked late in the quarter as the Stars gave away ball twice which gave the Pulse the break they so dearly needed to remarkably have the scores locked with under a minute to play.
The Stars took a deep breath and held the ball, before a penalty was called against Pulse defender Kristiana Manu’a, which put the ball in Malesala’s hands with a chance to win the game. Malesala was a picture of calm, as she shot the ball through the hoop – sparking jubilant scenes, as the Stars clipped their ticket into a second straight grand final.
Temu Holly Fowler and Samon Nathan were immense all game, forming a brick wall on defence – combining for seven gains throughout and making the Pulse sweat every time they had the ball.
Crampton and Reuelu-Buchanan were at their industrious best all match, creating clear pathways for Malesala and Wilson in a huge team effort.
The Stars will now face cross-city rivals the MG Mystics in next Sunday’s final in Hamilton.
Recent Comments