Wikipedia - Central Pulse

Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Central in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Central is the governing body that represents the Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki and Wellington Regions. Pulse were 2019, 2020 and 2022 ANZ Premiership winners. They also won the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club tournament.

History

Formation

Central Pulse were formed in 2007. The new team was effectively a merger of two former National Bank Cup teams, Capital Shakers and Western Flyers. Pulse subsequently became founder members of the ANZ Championship. The former Australia head coach, Jill McIntosh was appointed director of coaching, Singapore head coach, Kate Carpenter, was appointed head coach and England international, Sonia Mkoloma, became the team's first player.

ANZ Championship

Between 2008 and 2016, Central Pulse played in the ANZ Championship. On 5 April 2008, Pulse hosted the very first ANZ Championship match at the TSB Bank Arena, losing 33–50 to Melbourne Vixens. During the early ANZ Championship era, Pulse struggled to establish themselves both on and off the court. In 2008, Pulse suffered a winless season. The only point they gained was by default. In their Round 10 match against West Coast Fever, a leaky roof at Challenge Stadium saw the match called off and declared a draw. Each team received one point. Carpenter was subsequently replaced as head coach by Yvette McCausland-Durie.

Meanwhile, off the court, Pulse lost their main sponsor after just one season and needed financial bailouts from both Netball New Zealand and the league itself. Ahead of the 2009 season, Pulse found themselves fined for missing the deadline to announce their squad. There was also speculation that Netball New Zealand wanted to use the franchise as a development team for New Zealand under-21 players. After 24 games, Pulse eventually won their first ever match when they defeated New South Wales Swifts 53–52 in a 2009 Round 13 match at the Te Rauparaha Arena.

Pulse enjoyed their best season during the ANZ Championship era in 2013, when with a team coached by Robyn Broughton, captained by Katrina Grant and featuring Joline Henry, Caitlin Thwaites and Donna Wilkins, they won eight matches and finished fifth.

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2008 10th 0 1 12
2009 10th 1 0 12
2010 9th 1 0 12
2011 8th 3 0 10
2012 7th 5 0 8
2013 5th 8 0 5
2014 6th 7 0 6
2015 9th 3 2 8
2016 9th 2 1 10

Source:

ANZ Premiership

Since 2017, Pulse have played in the ANZ Premiership. During the early ANZ Premiership era, they emerged as one of the leagues strongest teams. Between 2017 and 2020, with a team coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie, captained by Katrina Grant and featuring, among others, Karin Burger, Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Claire Kersten, Pulse played in four successive grand finals. Between 2018 and 2020 they won three successive minor premierships. Pulse were the 2019 and 2020 overall champions. They also won the 2018 Netball New Zealand Super Club tournament.

Regular season statistics
Season Position Won Drawn Lost
2nd 9 6 2
1st 12 3 3
2019 1st 13 2 0
2020 1st 11 2 1
2021 5th 4 0 11
2022 1st 10 0 5

Premierships
Runners Up