WITH four of the six ANZ Premiership teams playing twice this round, there were some quality matchups and even more impressive compiled stats with teams putting on a show and mostly tight matches to close out Round 5.

A couple of the same repeat performers are back in the stats this week, and while the two top teams in Central Pulse and Northern Mystics only played the one game apiece, the likes of Aliyah Dunn (23 goals from 25 attempts), Ameliaranne Ekenasio (17 from 20) and Grace Nweke (29 from 32) were dominant as ever to post. Defensively the two teams continued to dominate in matches with closer margins than perhaps expected, with their defensive units working hard and combining for 11 (Pulse) and 10 (Mystics) gains apiece credit to Kelly Jury and Phoenix Karaka for the most part. 

Heading to defence, Temalisi Fakahokotau had a high impact, racking up 11 gains across her two matches, joined by fellow goal keepers Erena Mikaere (nine gains) and Kate Burley (six gains), while there were some other solid performers with Te Huinga Selby-Rickit, Holly Fowler, Jane Watson and Oceane Maihi all putting out impressive efforts. When it came to penalty count, Taneisha Fifita and Storm Purvis tallied the most penalties across their two matches with 17 and 15 respectively, though considerably cleaned up their act in their second matches. Through the midcourt, there were some high quality performers across a couple of categories, with the defensive midcourt proving crucial. Claire Kersten only played the one match and did not rack up a heap of assists but was monumental with three intercepts, while Shannon Saunders hit back against the Pulse in her first game with the same stat but did not back it up in her second outing, though did do a bit more work in attack. 

Kimiora Poi’s output was much the same, absolutely starring in her first match with six gains but was kept quiet by Magic captain Sam Winders in the second – who led by example to be our Round 5 Player of the Week thanks to her impact across the two matches. Looking at some of the consistent go-tos, Whitney Souness (34 assists) and Gina Crampton (33) were consistent as ever in attack leading the charge across their respective two games, while Grace Kara topped the individual performance tally with 20 assists in her first match but only racked up 11 in the second. While down on her regular count, Peta Toeava was threatening as ever with 18 pinpoint assists.

Looking to the goal circle, goal attacks Kalifa McCollin and Abigail Latu-Meafou both stood up under pressure this round. Both racking up lower tallies in their first match, Steel’s McCollin had to take the lead in the second match after Jennifer O’Connell (25 goals from 34 attempts) went down with a suspected knee injury, with the Trinidad and Tobago product shooting 27 of her combined 39 goals in the second outing. Magic’s Latu-Meafou impressed in the second match, shooting 23 from 27 compared to her 14 goal first match effort. Speaking of a lift in intensity, full credit to Latu-Meafou’s partner in crime Kelsey McPhee, who was far more consistent with four quarter efforts in both her matches, shooting at 84 per cent for the round. 

Meanwhile, Maia Wilson and Ellie Bird did what they do best, putting volume and accuracy to post. Wilson is as consistent as they come in the goal circle, able to turn and shoot from just about anywhere and proved it again this round with 36 goals in the first game and 39 in the second, shouldering the load with ease at a phenomenal 91 per cent. While her goal attack in Jamie Hume was down on accuracy and volume this round, her 27 assists across the two matches did wonders. Bird only missed 10 goals across her two matches, shooting 50 goals for the round, while Te Paea Selby-Rickit asserted herself on the contest with 35 goals and 23 assists in her two outings.

MORE MATCH STATS:

>> Central Pulse (40) defeated Southern Steel (37)

>> Southern Steel (39) defeated by Northern Stars (48)

>> Northern Stars (45) defeated WBOP Magic (43)

>> Mainland Tactix (41) defeated Northern Mystics (40)

>> Mainland Tactix (46) drew with WBOP Magic (46)