A stand-out performance from experienced defender Anna Harrison sparked the Northern Mystics to their first win of the trans-Tasman netball league with a 52-49 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Auckland.
Harrison started the match at goal keeper and finished at goal defence, mixing tight one-on-one defence with impeccable timing in hunting the intercept.
She finished the game with six deflections and three intercepts, and proved key in the final 15 minutes as the Mystics fought back from a four-goal deficit to sneak the win.
Adelaide remained mired at the bottom of the Australian conference, winless after five matches, while the Mystics sit third on the New Zealand ladder with a win and a draw.
The Aucklanders had found their rhythm and timing early, the midcourt showing confidence in letting the ball go, looking long and finding Cathrine Tuivaiti.
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The Silver Ferns goal shooter was in particularly fine touch, showing fingertip control on the baseline and her usual faultless accuracy as the Mystics eased out to an 18-15 lead.
Harrison worked hard at the back to close down Carla Borrego, who showed good mobility despite missing last week's 12-goal loss to the Queensland Firebirds with a knee injury.
The Thunderbirds lost Emily Beaton to injury after only nine minutes, but replacement Khao Watts slotted in smoothly and combined well with the tireless Bell in sharing the workload outside the circle.
The visitors began to hit their stride as the second quarter progressed, circle defenders Sarah Klau and Kate Shimmin restricting Tuivaiti and Tutaia to just nine goals for the spell as the Mystics took a 27-25 lead into halftime.
The Thunderbirds stormed ahead in the third quarter, winning the spell 17-11 and taking an ominous-looking 42-38 lead into the final spell.
But with Tuivaiti and Tutaia rock solid in the shooting circle, the Mystics went on a five-goal scoring run which gave them a lead they maintained right to the final whistle.
