Netball: Impatient Pulse downed by raging hot Fever

ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Central Pulse 54
West Coast Fever 60

A horror last quarter saw the Central Pulse fall 60-54 to the West Coast Fever in their transtasman netball league match at Palmerston North's Arena Manawatu yesterday.

It was the same old familiar story for the Pulse, who competed for three-quarters of the match, looking slick on attack and disruptive on defence until the final 15 minutes.

Ahead 32-29 at halftime, and 44-42 at the three-quarter mark, the Pulse could find nothing extra as the Fever ramped up the pressure in the closing minutes.

Winless in last year's league, and yet to record a victory after four games in this year's competition, the Pulse had plenty of chances. But a lack of patience under pressure and just too many mistakes in the last quarter saw them meekly relinquish a match which was there for the taking.

The game was characterised by a multitude of errors from both teams, with turnovers coming thick and fast, and ultimately it was an inability to convert possession into points that cost the Pulse.

They did well to turn around a slow start as the Fever belted out to an early 6-1 lead. Showing commendable composure, and with their zone defence working well, the Pulse fought back to trail 13-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Captain Camilla Lichtwark was in particularly destructive form at wing defence, and linked well with midcourters Ngarama Milner and Camilla Lees to supply some quality ball into the Pulse shooting circle.

The battle between Silver Fern Paula Griffin at goal shoot and the Fever's long-reaching Australian goal keep Susan Fuhrman was an absorbing one. Griffin seems to have grown in confidence as the season has progressed, and yesterday her holding game was rock-steady while her shooting game was solid, especially in the first half.

However as the game entered the closing stages, the Pulse attack lost fluency and hesitancy crept into their game. Players were too often static, and the work done off the ball to such effect earlier disappeared.

No small amount of credit for that should go to the Fever's revamped defensive third for the final half of the game. Wing defence Andrea Gilmore, brought on by Fever coach Jane Searle at halftime, in particular got through a power of work.

Both teams put up roughly the same amount of shots - the Fever 74 to the Pulse's 72 - but the accuracy of rookie Australian shooter Caitlin Bassett and goal attack Bianca Franklin proved superior.

- NZPA