Pulse add to arsenal for Magic match-up
June 15, 2018
On the rebound, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse will front with a more extensive repertoire for their highly anticipated ANZ Premiership netball clash against WBOP Magic in Wellington on Sunday.
Pipped at the post by a last-gasp match-winner while suffering their first loss of the season against the Northern Mystics last week has left the Pulse camp with no major concerns, just a little fine-tuning.
The Pulse can expect a serious challenge, which will be played in front of a sell-out house, from an ever-improving Magic who have leapt into the top three for the first time this season on the back of four straight wins.
``What our players faced last week was really good for us and gave us another context to think about,’’ Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said. ``There were some good learnings from it and the Mystics did a great job. We know we can be better and we will be better.
``For us, it’s been about what did we learn and what needed to put into this week that can grow our capacity. The players have been really positive and have come at it with no blame, all about looking at themselves and reflecting, and wanting to get to training and work really hard.
``The attitude has been great…..no cutting corners. We’re looking and talking all the time but when something’s right in front of you and you feel the heat a bit, you get to actually understand why you’re having those conversations. So, for us, it gave us another insight into learning how we can be better.’’
To date, there has been a deliberate approach from the coaching staff not to overload the Pulse’s young core of players with too much information but the loss has opened the door for some tinkering.
The Mystics’ smothering defensive tactics restricted the Pulse’s attacking flow and caused some wobbly decision-making at times but that has afforded McCausland-Durie the opportunity to tweak and add new skill sets this week.
``When you get lessons, the key is just that you learn,’’ she said.
``We want to do well every game. We want to make the grand final and we know to do that we’ve got to win. This competition’s still really tight and to get into the grand final position without going through elimination means we have to come through clear, so we have to win games to get there.
``Every team that we face is a challenge and we’d like to think that we’re a challenge to them.’’
Magic are finding their feet after a rocky start when they dropped their first three matches, including decisive 12 and 15 goal losses to the Pulse, but are expected to mount a stiff examination third time around.
``They’ve got really good balance across the court,’’ McCausland-Durie said. ``They play with a lot of good quick ball release and that can have you chasing if you’re not careful, they’ve got the ability to get turnover ball and look after it while one of their greatest assets has to be their shooting. And a team who’s accurate is hard to beat.
``They’re fit and conditioned and will be really confident coming off their last few weeks. Our job is to get out to a good start and knock that.’’
ENDS.
On the rebound, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse will front with a more extensive repertoire for their highly anticipated ANZ Premiership netball clash against WBOP Magic in Wellington on Sunday.
Pipped at the post by a last-gasp match-winner while suffering their first loss of the season against the Northern Mystics last week has left the Pulse camp with no major concerns, just a little fine-tuning.
The Pulse can expect a serious challenge, which will be played in front of a sell-out house, from an ever-improving Magic who have leapt into the top three for the first time this season on the back of four straight wins.
``What our players faced last week was really good for us and gave us another context to think about,’’ Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said. ``There were some good learnings from it and the Mystics did a great job. We know we can be better and we will be better.
``For us, it’s been about what did we learn and what needed to put into this week that can grow our capacity. The players have been really positive and have come at it with no blame, all about looking at themselves and reflecting, and wanting to get to training and work really hard.
``The attitude has been great…..no cutting corners. We’re looking and talking all the time but when something’s right in front of you and you feel the heat a bit, you get to actually understand why you’re having those conversations. So, for us, it gave us another insight into learning how we can be better.’’
To date, there has been a deliberate approach from the coaching staff not to overload the Pulse’s young core of players with too much information but the loss has opened the door for some tinkering.
The Mystics’ smothering defensive tactics restricted the Pulse’s attacking flow and caused some wobbly decision-making at times but that has afforded McCausland-Durie the opportunity to tweak and add new skill sets this week.
``When you get lessons, the key is just that you learn,’’ she said.
``We want to do well every game. We want to make the grand final and we know to do that we’ve got to win. This competition’s still really tight and to get into the grand final position without going through elimination means we have to come through clear, so we have to win games to get there.
``Every team that we face is a challenge and we’d like to think that we’re a challenge to them.’’
Magic are finding their feet after a rocky start when they dropped their first three matches, including decisive 12 and 15 goal losses to the Pulse, but are expected to mount a stiff examination third time around.
``They’ve got really good balance across the court,’’ McCausland-Durie said. ``They play with a lot of good quick ball release and that can have you chasing if you’re not careful, they’ve got the ability to get turnover ball and look after it while one of their greatest assets has to be their shooting. And a team who’s accurate is hard to beat.
``They’re fit and conditioned and will be really confident coming off their last few weeks. Our job is to get out to a good start and knock that.’’
ENDS.
For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Jane Hunt
Media and Communications Manager
e: jane_hunt@xtra.co.nz
m: +64 21 107 0287
Jane Hunt
Media and Communications Manager
e: jane_hunt@xtra.co.nz
m: +64 21 107 0287
Last Modified on 20/06/2018 08:51
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