WELLINGTON, New Zealand, (CMC)

Central Pulse, with Jamaican defender Althea Byfield, staged a tremendous fight before losing their fifth consecutive match last weekend in netball's ANZ Championship.

The LG Mystic edged Pulse 61-60 in extra-time to leave Pulse stuck at the bottom of the standings with a dismal 0-5 record. Byfield had a strong game but Pulse suffered a frustrating defeat. Pulse led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter but trailed 22-26 at the half.

one-goal victory

They rallied for a 35-35 score at the end of the third quarter. Pulse led 47-46 with three minutes remaining but the game ended 50-50 and, after extra-time, Mystic emerged with a narrow one-goal victory.

Romelda Aiken, the other Jamaican in the ANZ Championship, was idle this last weekend with her Queensland Firebirds on a bye. The Firebirds are currently fifth in the standings with a 2-2 record.