Netball: Steel's mobile mums outrun Central Pulse

Pulse skipper Cushla Lichtwark. Photo / Getty Images

It was a case of new coach, new players but the same old result for Central Pulse, the trans-Tasman netball league whipping girls, in Invercargill today.

A 46-55 loss to Southern Steel revealed not much has changed at the Pulse at all as they continue a vain search for a maiden win in the ANZ Championship.

Winless in the inaugural league last season, the Wellington-based side have it all in front of them again this term.

Administratively, the Pulse are the league's basket case but their performance today suggests their on court organisation needs only some minor tweaking.

They have one of the weakest playing rosters in the league but still managed to keep in touch with the home team until the closing quarter as the Steel slowly but surely squeezed them out of the contest.

But the Steel in Invercargill represents one of the toughest netball road trips in the world so the Pulse should not be too despondent.

Any team boasting the likes of former internationals Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins and current Silver Ferns Sheryl Scanlan, Wendy Telfer and Daneka Wipiiti are always going to represent the stiffest of challenges.

With master tactician Robyn Broughton back as coach and Wilson on deck again after giving birth, the Steel got their noses in front early and never relinquished the lead after ending the first quarter 13-10 in front.

Wilkins, who gave birth in December then suffered a broken wrist, marked her comeback by imposing her sturdy frame at goal attack, leaving room for goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti to operate freely as she shot at close to 90 per cent in the first half to guide her side to a 27-22 halftime advantage.

The Pulse trimmed the difference to two goals early in the third spell but the Steel reasserted themselves and won going away.

Between them, Wipiiti and Wilkins shot at 84 per cent, while at the other end of the court, Silver Fern Paula Griffin and Jamilah Gupwell combined for a 79 per cent rating despite operating under much more pressure than the home team's shooters.

It was Wilson's first trans-Tasman league match and she later breathlessly described the action as much quicker and intense than she remembered in the former national league.

"I was heaving. It was a definite step up from the old competition," she told Sky Sport.

Pulse skipper Cushla Lichtwark said there her players could take some positives and negatives from the match.

"There were good and bad bits. There is still a lot of stuff for us to work on.

"It wasn't particularly the way we wanted to start."

- NZPA