2020 Central Pulse season

The 2020 Central Pulse season saw the Central Pulse netball team compete in the 2020 ANZ Premiership.[1][2][3] As part of their pre-season preparations, Pulse competed in the 2019 Netball New Zealand Super Club, finishing the tournament in third place.[4][5][6] With a team coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie, captained by Katrina Rore and featuring Karin Burger, Aliyah Dunn and Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Pulse finished the regular ANZ Premiership season as minor premiers.[7][8] In the grand final, Pulse defeated Mainland Tactix 43–31, winning their second consecutive premiership.[9][10][11][12]

Central Pulse
2020 season
Head coachYvette McCausland-Durie
Asst. coachPelesa Semu
CaptainKatrina Rore
Main venueTSB Bank Arena
Season results
Wins–losses15–4
Regular season1st
Finals placingSuper Club 3rd
ANZ Premiership 1st
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Central Pulse seasons

Players

Player movements

Gains and losses
Gains Losses

Source:[1]

2020 roster

2020 Central Pulse roster
PlayersCoaching staff
Nat.NamePosition(s)DoBHeight
Karin BurgerGD, WD, GK (1993-04-12)12 April 1993 (aged 26)1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Aliyah DunnGS (1999-10-19)19 October 1999 (aged 20)1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Ameliaranne EkenasioGS, GA (1991-01-11)11 January 1991 (aged 29)1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Maddy GordonC, WA, WD (2000-01-16)16 January 2000 (aged 20)1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Kelly JuryGK, GD (1996-10-22)22 October 1996 (aged 23)1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Claire KerstenWD, C (1989-07-09)9 July 1989 (aged 30)1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Tiana MetuarauGA, WA, GS (2001-01-15)15 January 2001 (aged 19)1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Katrina Rore (c)GK, GD, WD (1987-05-06)6 May 1987 (aged 32)1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Rene Savai'inaeaWD, GD, C (2000-07-15)15 July 2000 (aged 19)1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Elle TemuGK, GD (1999-08-03)3 August 1999 (aged 20)1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach
  • Pelesa Semu

Physiotherapist:
Nikki Lynch
Operations Manager:
Jill Clapcott
High Performance Director/Specialist Coach:
Waimarama Taumaunu
Specialist Coaches:
Vicki Wilson
Anna Andrews
Strength and conditioning:
Adam Allen
Athlete Life: Helen Regan
Nutrition: Rebecca Jones
Mental Skills: Natalie Hogg


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Sources:[1][7]

Pre-season

2019 Super Club

In December 2019, Central Pulse together with the other five ANZ Premiership teams plus Collingwood Magpies from Suncorp Super Netball and Wasps Netball from the Netball Superleague competed in the 2019 Netball New Zealand Super Club. Pulse finished the tournament in third place.[4][5][6]

Group A

Matches
Sun 8 DecCentral Pulse39–49Northern MysticsTrafalgar Centre 
6.35pmAliyah Dunn  26/34 (76%)
Tiana Metuarau  13/21 (62%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  37/44 (84%)
Bailey Mes  7/9 (78%)
Saviour Tui  5/7 (71%)
Mon 9 DecCentral Pulse56–39Wasps NetballTrafalgar Centre 
8.10pmAliyah Dunn  27/28 (96%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  14/15 (93%)
Tiana Metuarau  15/16 (94%)
Report
Stats
Rachel Dunn  34/40 (85%)
Katie Harris  5/8 (63%)
Alexia Baker  0/1 (0%)
Tue 10 DecCentral Pulse51–28Southern SteelTrafalgar Centre 
8.10pmAliyah Dunn  26/30 (87%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  20/23 (87%)
Tiana Metuarau  15/16 (94%)
Report
Stats
Jennifer O'Connell  17/23 (74%)
Kalifa McCollin  11/13 (85%)
Georgia Heffernan  0/4 (0%)
Final ladder
Group A
PosTeamPWDLGFGA%Pts
1 Northern Mystics3201142115123.484
2 Central Pulse3201146116125.864
3 Southern Steel320112312896.094
4 Wasps Netball300310615867.090

  Qualified for Semi-finals
  5th/8th place classification

Source:[6]

Semi-finals

Thu 12 DecCollingwood Magpies54–40Central PulseTrafalgar Centre 
6.35pmShimona Nelson  41/44 (93%)
Natalie Medhurst  10/11 (91%)
Gabrielle Sinclair  2/2 (100%)
Nyah Allen  1/1 (100%)
Report
Stats
Aliyah Dunn  28/31 (90%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  9/12 (75%)
Tiana Metuarau  3/3 (100%)

Third place play-off

Fri 13 Dec
6.35pm
Report
Stats
Central Pulse47–45Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic  Trafalgar CentreSky Sport
Aliyah Dunn  32/35 (91%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  11/13 (85%)
Tiana Metuarau  4/4 (100%)
Kelsey McPhee  31/40 (78%)
Georgia Marshall  10/11 (91%)
Abigail Latu-Meafou  4/7 (57%)

Queensland Firebirds series

Central Pulse hosted Queensland Firebirds for a two match series at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Otaki on 8 and 9 February. Both teams one a match each.[16][17]

8 FebCentral Pulse58–56Queensland FirebirdsTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
9 FebCentral Pulse54–61Queensland FirebirdsTe Wānanga o Raukawa 

Queenstown series

Central Pulse played matches against Mainland Tactix and Southern Steel in Queenstown.[18]

Otaki tournament

Central Pulse hosted the official ANZ Premiership tournament at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Otaki between 28 February and 1 March. All six ANZ Premiership teams took part.[18]

Fri 28 FebCentral Pulse52–51Mainland TactixTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
11:00am
Fri 28 FebCentral Pulse42–25Southern SteelTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
6:00 pm
Sat 29 FebCentral Pulse61–42Northern StarsTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
11:00pm
Sat 29 FebCentral Pulse39–36Waikato Bay of Plenty MagicTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
6:00 pm
Sun 1 MarCentral Pulse69–55Northern MysticsTe Wānanga o Raukawa 
1:00 pm

Sources:[19][20][21]

Regular season

Fixtures and results

Round 1
Sun 15 MarMainland Tactix41–53Central PulseStadium 2000, Blenheim 
4:10 pmEllie Bird  26/29 (90%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  15/22 (68%)
Report
Stats
Aliyah Dunn  35/38 (92%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  18/22 (82%)
Round 2
Sun 21 JunNorthern Stars39–63Central PulseAuckland Netball Centre 
Maia Wilson  30/36 (83%)
Jamie Hume  7/10 (70%)
Vika Koloto  2/3 (67%)
StatsAliyah Dunn  43/45 (96%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  20/22 (91%)
Round 3
Mon 29 JunCentral Pulse42–35Northern MysticsAuckland Netball Centre 
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  21/24 (88%)
Aliyah Dunn  12/14 (86%)
Tiana Metuarau  9/12 (75%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  28/33 (85%)
Saviour Tui  6/7 (86%)
Asher Grapes  1/1 (100%)
Round 4
Sat 4 JulCentral Pulse47–40Southern SteelAuckland Netball Centre 
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  25/25 (100%)
Aliyah Dunn  22/22 (100%)
Report
Stats
Jennifer O'Connell  27/32 (84%)
Kalifa McCollin  13/14 (93%)
Sun 5 JulCentral Pulse51–30Waikato Bay of Plenty MagicAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  23/27 (85%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  21/24 (88%)
Tiana Metuarau  7/11 (64%)
Report
Stats
Kelsey McPhee  19/26 (73%)
Khiarna Williams  8/11 (73%)
Abigail Latu-Meafou  3/3 (100%)
Round 5
Fri 10 JulCentral Pulse40–37Southern SteelAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  23/25 (92%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  17/20 (85%)
Report
Stats
Jennifer O'Connell  25/34 (74%)
Kalifa McCollin  12/17 (71%)
Round 6
Sat 18 JulCentral Pulse44–38Northern MysticsAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  24/29 (83%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  14/19 (74%)
Tiana Metuarau  6/11 (55%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  37/39 (95%)
Saviour Tui  1/1 (100%)
Sun 19 JulCentral Pulse33–32Mainland TactixAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  13/13 (100%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  13/16 (81%)
Tiana Metuarau  7/11 (64%)
Report
Stats
Ellie Bird  24/28 (86%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  8/11 (73%)
Round 7
Fri 24 JulCentral Pulse52–29Waikato Bay of Plenty MagicAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  19/20 (95%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  29/30
Tiana Metuarau  2/4 (50%)
Grace McLean  2/2 (100%)
Report
Stats
Khiarna Williams  12/17 (71%)
Kelsey McPhee  9/13 (69%)
Abigail Latu-Meafou  6/10 (60%)
Harley Smith  2/2 (100%)
Sat 25 JulCentral Pulse46–36Northern StarsAuckland Netball Centre 
Aliyah Dunn  27/30 (90%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  19/20 (95%)
Report
Stats
Maia Wilson  29/35 (83%)
Jamie Hume  7/13 (54%)
Round 8
Sun 2 AugCentral Pulse42–44Northern MysticsTe Rauparaha Arena 
Aliyah Dunn  21/23 (91%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  20/28 (71%)
Tiana Metuarau  1/2 (50%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  38/44 (86%)
Saviour Tui  4/4 (100%)
Filda Vui  2/2 (100%)
Round 9
Mon 10 AugCentral Pulse32–39Mainland TactixTSB Bank Arena 
Aliyah Dunn  20/24 (83%)
Tiana Metuarau  12/17 (71%)
Report
Stats
Ellie Bird  32/38 (84%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  7/9 (78%)
Round 10
Sun 16 AugCentral PulsedrawnNorthern StarsTSB Bank Arena 
Mon 17 AugCentral PulsedrawnWaikato Bay of Plenty MagicTSB Bank Arena 

Sources:[7]

Final standings

PosTeamPWLDGFGAGDG%BPPts
1Central Pulse151122594474120125.3149
2Mainland Tactix1594260656640107.1242
3Northern Mystics157625824757101.2335
4Northern Stars15573590626-3694.2329
5Southern Steel154101578637-5990.7321
6Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic15294520592-7287.8319

  Qualified for Grand final
  Qualified for 3rd/4th place match
  Qualified for 5th/6th place match

Point System
  • Win = 4 points
  • Draw = 2 points
  • Loss of 5 or less goals = 1 point
  • Loss of more than 5 goals = 0 points

Sources:[1][8][22]


Finals Series

Grand final

Sun 23 Aug
6.45pm

Stats
Central Pulse43–31Mainland Tactix  Stadium SouthlandSky Sport
Scoring by quarter: 12–6, 23–13, 31–24, 43–31
Aliyah Dunn  28/30 (93%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  15/18 (83%)
Ellie Bird  19/23 (83%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  12/13 (92%)

Sources:[9][10][11][12]

Award winners

New Zealand Netball Awards

AwardWinner
ANZ Premiership Coach of the YearYvette McCausland-Durie

Sources:[23][24]

ANZ Premiership Awards

AwardWinner
Grand Final MVP[11][25]Maddy Gordon

Team of the season

Three Pulse players were included in Stuff's team of the season, selected by Brendon Egan.

PositionPlayer
GAAmeliaranne Ekenasio
CClaire Kersten
WDKarin Burger

Sources:[26]

References