Keeping with the theme of the domestic leagues this season, just like Loughborough Lightning in the Netball Super League and Thunderbirds in the Suncorp Super Netball League, Mystics have made it back-to-back titles in the ANZ Premiership (ANZP).
The ANZP dealt us the closest domestic league final we have seen this season, live on NetballPass, with Mystics and Pulse only being separated by one goal at full time.
The match started with Elimination Final winners, Mystics, making it clear they were out to get the table toppers Pulse.
Mystics started the game calm and controlled, looking after the ball and taking it down court carefully to the safe hands of their Silver Fern shooter, Grace Nweke.
Pulse on the other hand looked nervy for the opening 15-minutes, only managing to add 9 goals onto the scoreboard compared to Mystics 14 and leaving themselves a lot to do in the next three quarters.
Pulse did not shy away from their mistakes in the second quarter, as the team came out stronger with Samoan born Silver Fern Fa’amu Loane making a crucial intercept that changed the momentum in Pulse’s favour for a period of the second quarter, allowing them to win the 15-minutes 16-13 and go into the main break just one goal down.
The penultimate quarter then went goal for goal, before a Catherine Hall turnover led to Samoa’s Filda Vui having the opportunity to net one more for Mystics so that they remained in the lead by one overall, despite Pulse also winning this quarter 16-15.
The scoreline meant it was all still to play for in the final 15 minutes of this season, and it was Mystics that started the final term the strongest scoring 4/5 of the first goals.
However, things then took a late turn as Phoenix Karaka was awarded a two-minute suspension following a late challenge on Whitney Souness, and Pulse took full advantage of this two-minute period as they bounced back from behind.
Mystics then retaliated again, and the game went goal for goal for the dying minutes, before eventually coming down to a Nweke shot for Mystics in the final seconds of the game, which she scored allowing Mystics to win the game and the title, 53-54.
You can catch up on this match and all other matches from the ANZP season now on NetballPass.