ANZ Premiership live updates: Pulse v Steel
Pulse's Parris Mason (L) with Steel's Georgia Heffernan
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PHOTOSPORT
While the Tactix and Mystics have cleared out at the top of the ANZ Premiership ladder, there is a real fight for the remaining playoff spots. The Pulse and Steel come in off contrasting results last weekend, with only three rounds to go this will be a crucial match.
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Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Steel 'stoked' with miracle win over Pulse
Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn (left) and Pulse defender Kelly Jackson contest possession in the ANZ Premiership game in Wellington. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY There are no genuine miracles in sport but the Southern Steel delivered the closest thing to one tonight. They roared back from a nine-goal deficit heading into the final quarter to stun the Central Pulse 58-57 in a wild finish to the ANZ Premiership game in Wellington. Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan, in perhaps the defining performance of her career, landed a late two-point shot, and after the Pulse missed an attempt, it was 57-57 with 37sec to play. The Steel stayed patient, worked the opportunity and celebrated wildly when Aliyah Dunn converted the winning goal right on the buzzer. Steel coach Wendy Frew described this as a season-defining game, and it may prove to be just that. The Steel remain in the hunt for a playoff place. Perhaps just as importantly, they have proved they have reservoirs of courage and heart, especially considering they were pumped 70-45 the last time they played the Pulse. ''We never lost belief,'' Heffernan told Sky Sport after the game. ''We really thought we could win this game, and we came together as a team, so we're stoked.'' The Steel have two more home games, against the Magic and Stars, either side of a tricky away game against the Mystics. The Pulse made the early running as they capitalised on some sloppy Steel centre passes to leap to a 7-2 lead. But the rest of the first quarter was much more even and both teams delivered some slick play through the court. While the Pulse focused on ambitious long feeds — most of which came off — to Amelia Walmsley, the Steel were at their best when they kept things close and crisp. The combination between the Heffernan sisters, Kate making just her second start of the season at centre and Georgia in sublime form at goal attack, was particularly impressive. A couple of soft Steel turnovers threatened to let the Pulse get away again. But a huge held ball forced by Carys Stythe on Walmsley then a shut-down of a Maddy Gordon centre pass helped the Steel limit the Pulse's advantage to 16-14 at the first break. The Steel quickly nabbed their first lead of the night before an unfortunate lapse let the Pulse nudge ahead by four. Jaws dropped around the TSB Arena when Walmsley, who had earlier taken her accuracy streak to 100 consecutive goal attempts without missing, finally missed a shot. The Steel called for a time out later in the second quarter and injected both Abby Lawson and Kate Lloyd into the circle defence. Lawson had an immediate impact, and the southerners forced a couple of big turnovers, but every time the Steel looked like charging back, the Pulse stepped up, and the home side led 34-30 at halftime. When the Pulse slipped ahead 38-31 early in the third quarter, there was a sense the game was getting away from the Steel. But again they responded. Lawson kept battling furiously and Georgia Heffernan kept finding herself space to influence the action at the attack end. What followed, though, was probably the most significant passage of the game. With goal defence Parris Mason firing in some dazzling long balls to Walmsley, and the Steel committing a couple of bad turnovers, the Pulse went on a five-goal run. Tiana Metuarau then dropped in a two-point bomb as the Pulse took a commanding 50-41 lead into the final quarter. That was a formidable task for the Steel to overcome, and while they banged in the first three goals of the quarter, they appeared to suffer a fatal blow when wing defence Renee Savai'inaea was sent to the bin for two minutes for clattering Whitney Souness to the floor. Oddly, that led to the Pulse falling apart — they seemed to panic, and lose their structure — and the Steel deciding they would refuse to be beaten. The scores Southern Steel 58 Aliyah Dunn 34 (34/35), Georgia Heffernan 24 (24/26) Central Pulse 57 Amelia Walmsley 49 (49/53), Tiana Metuarau 8 (7/9) Quarter scores: Pulse 16-14, 34-30, 50-41.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fans get up close and personal with Crusaders heroes
A hero's welcome has greeted the triumphant Crusaders having restored their Super Rugby supremacy . Hundreds of fans gathered in central Christchurch on Monday to revel in the side's celebrations, less than 48 hours after the side clinched the title for the 15th time. The Crusaders were once again crowned Super Rugby champions, edging the Chiefs 16-12 in Saturday's grand final at Apollo Projects Stadium. Chanting, red and black flags and the familiar ascent of "Conquest of Paradise" coloured the atmosphere as rabid fans got up close and personal with their heroes and the silverware. Celebrations on Cashel Street were also fittingly in full sight of construction of the franchise's forthcoming new home One New Zealand Stadium, also known as Te Kaha. The new multi-use arena is due to open in April. Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon High school teachers Milika Faitotonu and Poe Kairua, both family members of former Crusaders linchpin Richie Mo'unga, were one of the earliest patrons gathered on Cashel Street. Faitotonu said the Crusaders' "spirit and culture" set them apart from other sporting teams. "As [David Havili] said it's the families, the culture. We are a whānau and a family, and family is very important. "It just took a year for Penney to establish that relationship with the boys." The pair said they could not wait to attend games at the new stadium after enduring the wintry clime in Addington for many years. "I think moving from Apollo over to One New Zealand... I think that was the best send-off we could've had, not just for the Crusader fans, but for the whole community," Kairua said. "It takes Christchurch city to get behind the boys and make them a success." Mayor Phil Mauger playfully paid tribute to the squad during formalities. He said he was pleased with the team had won the final as he would have "had to put a hold on the stadium". Crusaders and All Blacks halfback Noah Hotham told RNZ the turnout was "amazing". "Any time we can connect with our fans, our home, it's an awesome time, very special. "You see from last year how much scrutiny we went through, how people started talking about the downfall of the Crusaders. To see how we've come back from that and learned from our mistakes last year, it makes it so much more satisfying." Photo: RNZ/Nathan McKinnon Midfielder Dallas McLeod admitted some of the squad were "slowly recovering" from big post-match celebrations. "We've had a good couple of days with the boys celebrating it so it's been good." The squad had goals at the beginning of the campaign, namely turning things around following last year's ninth-placed finish, McLeod said. "Having Davey (David Havili) as the leader this year has been awesome, driving that alongside the rest of the leaders in the team. So having that goal at the start and working hard to get it done is very cool." It was a double celebration for several Crusaders players, with seven of the squad named in the All Blacks squad earlier in the day for next month's test series against France. Crusaders number eight Christian Lio-Willie was also named in the squad as injury cover for loose forward Luke Jacobsen.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Two newbies named in Tall Ferns FIBA Asia Cup squad
Tayla Dalton (right) defends against You Tang of China. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Two potential debutants have been named in the Tall Ferns squad for the upcoming FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China. Head coach Natalie Hurst has named a squad of 12 plus two reserves with Rebecca Pizzey and Olivia Williams in the New Zealand women's basketball team for the first time. "Olivia brings more length on the wing. She's a defensive minded player who shows great instincts at that end, and isn't afraid to make a big play at the offensive end as well. Rebecca is a high IQ player. She also has great length at the defensive end and can stretch the floor at the offensive end. Another mobile big who can handle the ball for us, which is incredibly valuable with Sharne Robati not being available," Hurst said. The squad maintains a solid-core group of players from May's Trans-Tasman Throwdown, with guard Tayla Dalton returning, University of Hawai'i standout Ritorya Tamilo, and forward Charlotte Whittaker who has recently finished her French season with Toulouse. "I'm excited about a few things with this group, including the mix of youth and experience we have. Especially getting access to some of the ladies either finishing college or on their breaks, so we're stoked to welcome them into the group. Obviously with the Trans-Tasman Throwdown we blooded a lot of new squad members, who we now see heading to their first Asia Cup." The team is in a tough group alongside China, Indonesia and Korea. "We target the first two games and then see what happens from there," Hurst said. The Tall Ferns will get their FIBA Asia Cup campaign started against Korea on July 14th, before backing up against Indonesia the following day. The Tall Ferns final pool play match is against China on 16th July. Hurst said success would be getting through to the next round. McKenna Dale, guard/forward, Tauranga Whai & Mandurah Magic Tayla Dalton, guard, Townsville Flames Bailey Flavell, guard, Northern Kāhu & Launceston Tornadoes Pahlyss Hokianga, guard, Tauranga Whai Esra McGoldrick, guard/forward, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers Rebecca Pizzey, forward, Eltham Wildcats* Emme Shearer, guard, Mackay Meteorettes Ashlee Strawbridge, forward, Mainland Pouākai & West Adelaide Bearcats Ritorya Tamilo, centre, University of Hawai'i Ella Tofaeono, forward/centre, Melbourne Tigers Charlotte Whittaker, forward, Toulouse Metropole Basket Olivia Williams, guard, University of California - Irvine* *denotes debutant Reserves: Ella Brow, guard, Baylor University Maia Jones, guard, Santa Clara University
