Netball: Pre-season games for WaiBOP Magic

Sam Sinclair in action for the WaiBOP Magic last season at ASB Arena. PHOTO/FILE

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic's first month of pre-season training has gone well for the squad.

The team has been training and practising mostly without the New Zealand team players Sam Sinclair and Kelly Jury as their Commonwealth Games camps have taken up much of the pre-season preparation. Lenize Potgieter has also been selected for the South African team.

Magic head coach Margaret Forsyth said February was a busy month, but it was great finally coming together to start pre-season training after a six month off-season.

"The first couple of weeks were a lot of strength and conditioning and testing.

"We then had a mini camp at Papamoa in mid-February which was an excellent way for team members to get to know each other better, build relationships and revisit our team vision and goals.

"The players devised and took part in a range of whole team challenges, personal stories were shared and life skills around self-awareness and acknowledgement were key sessions."

February's conditioning block saw the team finish the boxing and hard conditioning sessions to move into more tactical sessions in preparation for the pre-season games.

The Magic's first game was last Wednesday in Auckland against the Mystics.

"We took a squad of 11 to the game, including all three training partners and one Beko player (Courtney Elliott). Sam and Kelly were away with the New Zealand team, and Casey and Lenize had minor ankle injuries that we didn't want to risk," Forsyth said.

"Although we lost the game 49-41, we won quarters 1 and 4, lost quarter 2 and drew quarter 3. All players got at least one full quarter on court. Overall, I was very happy with the run out, with terrific performances across the board, but especially from Sydney Fraser, Kat Levien and captain for the night Hayley Saunders."

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic open the competition season against the Central Pulse on May 20 from 4.10pm at Claudlands Arena.