Netball: Home-grown talent at wing

Rotorua's Samantha Sinclair started for the Magic in their first playoff win on Sunday. Photo/Stephen Parker

Samantha Sinclair's family could not help jumping around the lounge after watching the Magic win a nail-biting playoff match in Sydney.

Sinclair, 19, from Rotorua, started at wing defence for the Magic on Sunday and had a solid game to help her team defeat the NSW Swifts 50-49.

It was her third match for the franchise since being signed by the Magic at the start of this season. Her mother, Justine Sinclair, who lives in Rotorua, said it was surreal seeing her daughter compete in the ANZ Championship.

"We keep looking at ourselves and pinching each other, we can't believe that is our daughter out there," she said.

The family had been feeling anxious as they watched the match on television.

"We were really nervous, we did not want her to make a mistake. But they played well and it was a thrill to see them hold on," Justine Sinclair said.

"It was absolutely incredible. We were leaping around the room, high-fiving each other."

She said her entire family were proud of the young netballer, including her two sisters, brother, parents, grandparents and relatives. Justine Sinclair admitted she was probably her daughter's biggest critic when it came to netball.

"I'm probably her number one critic and her father is her number one fan, he only sees the good," she said with a laugh.

"She made a couple of mistakes [on Sunday] but everyone did and she played really well. It was awesome."

Samantha Sinclair has worked hard to earn her place in the team and will be hoping for another start this weekend in the preliminary final.

Justine Sinclair and her husband, Jamie, were considering flying to Australia to watch the Magic live in the next playoff match.