|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
- By Franklin Junior Journalist Rose Fuller
The Northern Stars took on the Wellington Central Pulse at the Pulman Arena in Takanini last weekend.
From the first centre pass, the large smiles on both sides were quickly replaced with withering looks of determination. Everyone in the stadium was enthralled. The first quarter felt disconnected, the pressure getting under the players’ skin, which resulted in missed opportunities. Collective groans could be heard if the ball went awry, but the Stars dominated the first quarter with a lead of 18-11.
The second quarter passed with a display of impressive netball and teamwork, the ball flying rapidly from player to player. With each goal the Stars secured, a ready-made playlist was blasted from the speakers. At halftime the score was 30-25 to the Stars.
A sharp whistle sent the third quarter into fierce action, with each team managing to sneak past the other. Both teams scored goals, but pressure was clearly building on the Pulse’s shoulders, and they were quickly seven points behind their rivals.
In the goal circle, play between defenders and attackers was vigorous. But even with the heated play, Stars’ goal shoot Amelia Walmsley still managed to get every shot she threw into the net, barely breaking her intense focus. Stars’ wing defence, Abbie Leger, also snatched an impressive intercept, which resulted in a successful turnover of the ball. The Stars were still in the lead at the end of the third quarter.
With a possible victory only 10 minutes to go, the home crowd was sitting on the edge. Then, with only a few minutes left Stars’ goal attack Martina Salmon scored a beautiful 2-pointer and just as the ball hugged the net, signs were excitedly waved in the air, and cheers erupted from the crowd. When the final goal was scored, the Stars claimed a 59-49 win over the Pulse.
Walmsley was named Player of the Match, with an impressive 100 per cent shooting accuracy in the final match of the ANZ netball premiership.
“Coming into the second quarter, we came out strong but then we let it slip a bit. If we could go back, I probably would’ve liked us to have a little less hesitation,” she told the Franklin Times.
With the Stars finishing fourth, it was a bittersweet end to their season, but a glowing Walmsley said:
“I think we had highs and we had lows, but I’m super proud of the team.”
