The Northern Mystics have held off the Central Pulse 54-50 in their trans-Tasman netball encounter in Auckland.
Down by seven goals early on the Pulse fought back to level the scores in the third quarter only to see the Mystics extend their lead again.
Last year's beaten finalists Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic beat the Southern Steel 54-47.
Meanwhile the defending champions, the New South Wales Swifts, were beaten 48-47 by the Adelaide Thunderbirds - Adelaide's first win over win over New South Wales in four years.
