The Mystics wrapped up a winless weekend with a loss to the Mainland Tactix. Yes it is preseason and results are secondary to blooding youth and testing new combinations, but the Auckland side have not looked at all convincing in their play. Saturday night's 38-18 loss to the West Coast Fever was a particular low point. The team's biggest issue over the weekend was getting the ball into the shooting circle, with their flow through court often breaking down in their attacking third, while the defensive end lacks the same bite this year. Their intent to play a fast-paced, open style of netball is a high-risk gameplan and demands strong defence to account for the amount of ball being lost at the other end.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic
Missing their inspirational captain and chief ball-getter Casey Kopua, who will likely miss the entire ANZ Championship season with a knee injury, the Magic have used this weekend to try to get their young defenders up to speed. Three members of their defensive unit - Kristiana Manu'a, Aisha Bower and Kelly Jury - haven't had any ANZ Championship experience, while Jo Trip has had limited court time at this level. The inexperience was obvious over the weekend, with the Magic out-gunned in most of their match-ups. Still, Julie Fitzgerald's side did not win a game at last year's preseason tournament and came within a game of making the grand final.
Central Pulse
Another star-studded side with big expectations on their shoulders, the Pulse had an up and down tournament. The team managed to sneak wins against the Mystics and Steel, while a last gasp draw against the Thunderbirds provided the only other highlight. But having not won a game against an Australian outfit last season, the Pulse would have been particularly disappointed let a golden opportunity against the Fever slip in their final game of the tournament. Only a few goals separated the two teams for most of the match before the Fever kicked on to record a convincing 52-41 win.
Mainland Tactix
The Tactix finished off their weekend on a high, recording a 55-50 win over the Mystics, who they meet in the opening round of the ANZ Championship. A young and hungry group, the Tactix's ace card lies in their import shooter Mwai Kumwenda. The Malawi international is difficult to stop under the post, with her aerial ability and unorthodox movement a handful for defenders. Add to that young goal attack Gemma Hazeldine, a former bench player at the Pulse, and the Tactix have a clever and creative attacking end. But the team lack any real defensive firepower and will struggle to match it with the heavyweight teams in the competition.
Southern Steel
The most impressive of the New Zealand teams over the weekend, the Steel's hard work over the off-season was evident. The team look fit and well-prepared and have benefited from being able to spend a full off-season together, with their only disruption being the absence of Shannon Francois and Phoenix Karaka, who both were involved with the Ferns' tour to Fiji. The Steel were the only New Zealand side to record a win against an Australian rival over the weekend, beating the Thunderbirds 29-23 in one of the shortened games. The Steel's brand of netball doesn't excite, but they are a good, steady side and with the introduction of the new conference system could well be in the finals mix come June.
