Netball: Latu's strong recovery impresses for Mystics

Cathrine Latu

Prominent Northern Mystics goalshoot Cathrine Latu has surprised many with a strong performance in her first outing of the ANZ Championship despite still recovering from having her appendix removed last month.

Her bustling display on court, shooting 32 goals from 35 attempts, announced her health and fitness woes have been left far behind after helping the Mystics grind out a hard-fought 59-53 win against the Mainland Tactix on Monday.

The Kawakawa local said: "It has been a longer recovery than I'd hoped.

"It's more like trying to get fit in a netball sense as opposed to a fitness one. Monday night was a bit intense but everything's fine on the inside."

Also coming on for the Mystics in her debut match was Kaeo's Elsa Brown. Despite some opening nerves for the young rookie goal shoot, Brown helped the Mystics establish a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. "As to be expected she said she didn't realise how tough it would be, especially the mental side of things but the foundations are there," Latu said of Brown.

Boasting a new-look midcourt with a mass of experience, thanks to newcomers Camilla Lees and English import Serena Guthrie, the Mystics proved they had the mettle to battle back from seven goals down early in the piece.

With the Tactix lead dwindling, new coach Sue Hawkins decided to disrupt the Mystics' rhythm, bringing on Jess Moulds and Bailey Mes (both former Mystics stars) as impact players at either end of the court. The change stemmed the flow and allowed the Tactix to stay in front at halftime, 29-26.

With their backs against the wall in the second-half, the Mystics turned to Latu to improve their shooting statistics and, with a more familiar attacking line-up, the Northerners closed the gap to within three through Laura Langman releasing the ball with more confidence to Latu and Maria Tutaia.

The Mystics showed patience and resolve, and with Guthrie's tenacity on defence, and Tutaia and Latu's understanding on attack, the visitors built a lead that was unassailable in the last five minutes.