Netball: Pulse hold on for breakthrough win

Pulse's Camilla Lees celebrates her team’s win over the Tactix in Wellington on Saturday. Photo / NZPA

The Central Pulse scored just their second win in transtasman netball league history, opening their account for 2010 with a tense 45-43 victory over the Canterbury Tactix in Wellington yesterday.

Just days after a heartbreaking 60-61 defeat in extra time to the Northern Mystics, the Pulse led virtually all the way in the bottom of the table match to draw level on points with the struggling Tactix.

But they nearly blew another lead, up by five goals with five minutes remaining before the Tactix stormed back to trail by one with two minutes 40 seconds left.

Silver Ferns shooter Paula Griffin made it safe with back-to-back goals in the dying minutes as the Pulse celebrated before a big home crowd in Wellington.

The Pulse's only other win was at home against the New South Wales Swifts last year.

Griffin led the way today with 27 from 29 while captain Jane Altschwager, who was benched for a period in the final quarter, shot 15 from 23.

For the Tactix, Anna Thompson was impressive with 22 from 25 but Angela Mitchell struggled early on with four from 10 before departing with an injury in the second quarter. Her young replacement Ellen Halpenny made 17 from 24 at goal attack.

The return of Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant from a foot injury was a key one for the hosts, as a dynamic first half helped her team to a 23-17 lead at the main break against the sluggish Tactix.

The Pulse led by as many as eight goals early in the third quarter but the Tactix finally found their composure and it was just a three-goal margin heading into the final 15 minutes.

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie introduced young goal attack Te Amo Amaru-Tibble (three from five) for Altschwager in the final quarter and they looked to have control at 43-38 with just over 5min remaining before a late Tactix rally.

The injury-hit visitors suffered a blow with 4min remaining when centre Phillippa Finch was carried off after suffering a nasty knee injury in a collision, which seemed to take the wind from their sails as the Pulse snuck home.

Altschwager admitted her side got the jitters again.

"We certainly looked to give it away a few times but I'm glad we got it in the end," she told Sky Sport.

"We knew it was going to be tough, we knew it would come down to a couple of goals. It just meant that everyone had to step it up from last week against Mystics and they did."

Tactix captain Maree Bowden appeared near tears as she tried to explain her side's seventh loss of the season.

"We needed another quarter out there but you can't play catchup and unfortunately that's what we're doing. It was a good fight, and that's all I can ask."

- NZPA