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ANZ Championship: Official Result & Statistics

ANZ Championship: Official Result & Statistics

Official Result: Mojo Pulse (47) drawn with NSW Swifts (47)

Appropriately for the special day shared between the two countries, Mojo Pulse and NSW Swifts played out a thrilling 47-all draw on Anzac Day in Wellington on Saturday.

After an emotional start to the game when the Last Post was played, the two combatants played out a thriller with the outcome remaining in doubt throughout a riveting contest.

The Pulse looked to have blown their chances midway through the final stanza, shooting wobbles and errors handing the Swifts a five-goal lead with four minutes to go. Stung into action, the home replied with a decisive five-goal unanswered burst of their own to leave the scores tied at 46-all with a minute to play.

Both teams had their chances to snatch the outright win but with momentum swings a feature of the match, a draw was probably the right result, the third for the disappointed Swifts this season.

With both teams sitting in fourth place in their respective conferences, there was plenty riding on the outcome, the feeling and intent on show from the outset.

Pulse opted to stick with the same line-up which had pushed the West Coast Fever so close the week before which meant another start for goal shoot Ameliaranne Wells. The Swifts also retained their settled seven of recent weeks with captain Kim Green slotting in at wing attack, Paige Hadley at centre, and Abbey McCulloch at wing defence.

In true trans-Tasman tradition, the contest started in a willing and uncompromising fashion to provide plenty of thrills and spills in a lively opening. Both teams made tidy starts, the experienced heads of Jodi Brown (goal attack) and captain Katrina Grant (goal defence) standing out for the home team.

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For the Swifts, McCulloch featured prominently, proving a constant thorn for her opposing attackers while shooters Susan Pettitt and Caitlin Thwaites showed their great understanding under the hoop. Flawless shooting percentages ensured the visitors hit the first break with a slim 13-12 lead.

The niggle and intensity showed few signs of abating on the resumption, the pressure on every play creating turnover opportunities both ways before the Swifts eked out a three-goal lead on the back of Pulse errors.

The home team required all their resilience and patience to thread the ball towards goal but Wells showed her growing confidence with a fine effort under the Pulse hoop. The physical nature of the match ensured a mounting penalty count against both sides with neither showing any intent in backing off.

Shooter Pettitt remained a model of composure and consistency for the Swifts who benefited from a couple of late Pulse errors to take a 25-23 lead into the main break.

Micaela Wilson, with just two quarters under her belt this campaign, replaced goal defence Julie Corletto in a precautionary measure for the Swifts for the second half.

Both teams produced a high octane third stanza where the lead changed hands several times in a frenetic scramble by both to gain the ascendancy.

Swifts nailed the first two goals in the opening minutes before the long reach of goalkeeper Te Huinga Reo-Selby Rickit and the determination of wing defence Joline Henry snatched vital turnover ball, allowing the home team to sneak a one-goal lead.

The Swifts struck back on the back of Pulse errors to surge to a three-goal advantage before the home team again wrestled the lead back in their favour, ensuring an exciting run to the line when they snatched a 37-35 lead at the last break.


Pulse shooting statistics:
Jodi Brown 21/25 (84%)
Ameliaranne Wells 26/33 (79%)


Swifts shooting statistics:
Susan Pettitt 22/26 (85%)
Caitlin Thwaites 25/29 (86%)

MVP: Ameliaranne Wells (Pulse)


END


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