Pulse's Maddy Gordon during the ANZ Premiership Wellington Pulse vs Steel netball match at the TSB Arena in Wellington. 28 April 2024. © Copyright image by Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz Photo: Marty Melville
The Central Pulse withstood a Southern Steel onslaught to prevail 54-46 in their ANZ Premiership Netball match in Wellington - but star midcourter Maddy Gordon was a casualty in the victory.
Silver Ferns midcourter Gordon inspired the home side's third-quarter blitz as the Wellington side overcame a two-goal half-time deficit to wrestle back the advantage.
In the third quarter, the Pulse outscored the Steel by nine goals thanks to a strong defensive effort.
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The Wellington team were romping to a one-sided victory until Gordon landed on another player's foot early in the final quarter.
The Silver Fern was carried off court with an ankle injury and did not return.
Pulse captain Kelly Jackson (nee Jury) also saw strike shooter Amelia Walmsley go down in the final seconds of the game.
She told SkySport she was fairly confident there was no serious damage to either of her teammates.
With Pulse frontline shooter Tiana Metuarau sidelined with a foot injury for several more rounds, coach Anna Andrews-Tasola will also be hoping for their rapid return.
"I think Amelia has got cramp over there. Maddy, I think, just tweaked an ankle," Jackson told SkySport.
Pulse's Maddy Gordon (C is carried from the caught by team mates Amelia Walmsley (L) and Parris Mason (R after being injured during the ANZ Premiership Wellington Pulse vs Steel netball match at the TSB Arena in Wellington. 28 April 2024. © Copyright image by Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz Photo: Marty Melville
"Defensively, we just needed to get more ball, which started happening in the second half.
"We were packing back [at the beginning], so attacking forward and getting the momentum [did] the trick."
The inclusion of Steel vice-captain Shannon Saunders made a huge difference to the Southern side, Jackson said - but with a heavily strapped knee the former Silver Fern was unable to last the full match.
Steel captain Kate Heffernan credited her shooters Georgia Heffernan and Grace Namana for giving the home side a scare.
"It's super frustrating; I do think that we did it to ourselves," Kate Heffernan said.
"You can see it coming together so there is definitely belief growing."
Pulse shooters Amelia Walmsley and Khiarna Williams were a force for the Steel defenders.
Williams was again superb, coming into the game in the second quarter after Kiana Pelasio went to the bench.
Walmsley was unhappy with the attention she was receiving from Steel keeper Taneisha Fifita.
Fifita was warned for a challenge that flung the Pulse shooter flat on her back and whiplashed her neck.
But the physical Steel defender escaped a send-off by the umpires in that incident.
Kate Heffernan also received a warning from the umpire for a challenge on Pulse midcourter Whitney Souness.
Shooting Stats
Pulse
Amelia Walmsley 44/51 (86%)
Khiarna Williams 9/12 (75%)
Kiana Pelasio 1/1 (100%)
Steel
Grace Namana 27/35 (77%)
Georgia Heffernan 19/25 (76%)
ANZ Player of the Match: Georgia Heffernan