Netball: Van Dyk proves she is far from past it

They may say she's too old, she's lost her strength, it's time to retire, but Irene van Dyk ruled the circle for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic last night.

In a comprehensive 65-49 victory against West Coast Fever in Tauranga in the ANZ Championship's sixth round, van Dyk had the better of her Australian defensive opponents.

She was on the move throughout the game and netted 37 from 39 for a 95 per cent shooting average.

While others have questioned her ability to continue to foot it with the best, van Dyk continues to churn out great performances and perfect shooting records.

She has a big supporter in Magic coach Noeline Taurua, who says the 39-year-old remains unstoppable.

Van Dyk shows no signs of slowing down, last season chalking up her 100th game for Magic and with more than 200 test matches to her name - 130 for New Zealand and 72 for her birth country South Africa.

"Her conditioning is A-one and she's playing some really good netball," Taurua says of van Dyk, who walked all over her Aussie nemesis Susan Fuhrmann last night, prompting Fever coach Norma Plummer to bench the defender in the second half.

It made no difference to van Dyk who continued to dominate despite the more mobile attentions of young Josie Janz.

Taurua said van Dyk appeared to have a new lease on life this season. "She's very committed and focused ... she's always been tough but has now added a different edge.

"There's nobody else in New Zealand you could say is producing the same consistent performance ... it will be a sad day when she does go. She will be very difficult to replace."

Fuhrmann has the ability to get the better of van Dyk but the Magic shooter never took a step back last night, using plenty of movement to good effect.

She also had the excellent services of centre and captain Laura Langman, wing attack Khao Watts and goal attack Julianna Naoupu, who has been in exciting form in the past two rounds.

Following last week's breakthrough victory over Canterbury Tactix after a horror four-loss start to the season, Magic took another step up against Fever, dominating the match in all facets.

Defenders Leana de Bruin, Casey Williams and at wing defence Elias Shadrock came up with some superb turnovers, complementing some decisive, controlled attack play.

Last night's win was down to timing and precision for Magic, whose excellent team effort also gave their goal average a healthy boost.

While it wasn't a flawless performance, it wasn't too far off and will provide a huge confidence boost after a shaky start to the season.

Up 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, Magic built on their lead each quarter, up 30-32 at halftime and 47-37 going into the final spell, keeping the pressure on as Fever fell off the pace.

In other ANZ Championship round-six matches, NSW Swifts beat Central Pulse 39-36 and Queensland Firebirds toppled Northern Mystics 56-43.

Tonight Tactix will have their work cut out against undefeated Melbourne Vixens while Southern Steel play Adelaide Thunderbirds.