Netball: Magic aiming to copy Sting formula

Amigene Metcalfe says the Magic were not getting complacent. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

It is appropriate that the Magic must get past the Sting in tonight's national final as they set out to lay the foundation for a lengthy reign at the top of New Zealand netball.

After all, the Sting set the template. Their six National Bank Cup titles have earmarked them as the Crusaders of domestic netball.

So if you're going to emulate the best, it is fitting the Magic, defending the crown they won for the first time last year, must beat the team who have contested all nine cup finals since the competition began in 1998.

When the Magic crunched the Sting by 10 goals in their semifinal a fortnight ago, it was their fourth successive win over the Southland franchise and squared up a head-to-head ledger which at the start of last year had read: played 7, won 1, lost 6.

"Obviously the win over the Sting in the semifinal was a huge thing for us, both in terms of the result and how we performed, so it was a good confidence-booster." Magic co-captain Amigene Metcalfe said.

Before that game, the Magic had lost back-to-back games against the Diamonds and the Force. There's a school of thought which says defeats are important in a team's, or athlete's development.

Metcalfe acknowledged the viewpoint, but isn't thoroughly convinced in the Magic's case.

"I never think a loss is any good. If you can go without losing I always think it's better for your confidence and the psychological advantage you can have over other teams.

"But it did really make us evaluate where we were at and say, 'Come on, things are not working'. Now that might have happened without the losses, and we were by no means getting complacent."

Still, it added fresh interest to the competition, which had five teams in with a semifinal shot going into the last round. You can't ask for much better from an eight-team contest.

If the Sting were feeling bolshie about critics of their ageing legs, they gave the perfect riposte in the third semifinal last Friday when they saw off a younger Force in an extra-time thriller 64-59.

For much of the match, the Sting were playing catchup. But with wise heads like Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson, Australian international Natalie Avellino, Lesley Rumball, Belinda Colling and the second-half arrival from nowhere, double international Donna Loffhagen, they had enough nous to grab their chance when the Force slipped up.

"We haven't really clicked because we haven't played to our potential this year ... yet," Rumball said.

"We're wanting to save that for the finals so we're peaking at the right time."

And she gave Magic coach Noeline Taurua a flick when told of Taurua's assertion that player for player, the Magic had a superior combination.

"I guess the coach has to say that," Rumball said. "We probably have a different opinion to her. Player for player we know we can compete."

Sting coach Robyn Broughton likes the edge Loffhagen brings to any team. She has been out of netball for a year and although scratchy last week, seems likely to play a part tonight.

"She brings vim and vigour to the team," Broughton said of Loffhagen.

"She's just a competitor, it wouldn't matter what she was playing, she's right out there and into it.

"And she's not scared to talk it up which is good because I've got a fairly quiet team this year, who are not into screaming and yelling."

The keys tonight revolve round the Sting's ability to make life difficult for Magic crack shot Irene van Dyk, or more precisely, those whose job is to feed the tall shooter. That means slowing down the speed with which midcourters like internationals Laura Langman and Metcalfe can deliver the ball to the circle.

At the Magic defensive end, can the classy Avellino - who was outstanding last week both in organising the attacking third and drilling vital goals in the nerve-rattling final quarter - Tania Dalton, Belinda Colling and Loffhagen get the wood on Magic's strong defensive duo, Casey Williams and Joline Henry?

A fast pace probably suits the Magic; a more measured tempo will assist the Sting.

Last year, the Magic beat the Sting by 26 goals in a one-sided final. This seems sure to be closer. The odds favour the Magic but as the Force discovered to their cost, write the Sting off at your peril.

PAST FINALS

1998: Rebels 57 Sting 50
1999: Sting 63 Rebels 54
2000: Sting 43 Flames 40
2001: Sting 47 Flames 44
2002: Sting 54 Flames 48
2003: Sting 51 Force 49
2004: Sting 63 Flames 55
2005: Magic 65 Sting 39

GRAND FINAL RECORDS

Best team shooting percentage:
Sting 54/62 87% v Flames, 2002

Best individual shooting:
Belinda Colling (Flames) 22/24 92% v Sting, 2002

Most goals scored:
47, Jo Steed (Rebels) v Sting 1998

KEY SHOOTING NUMBERS THIS YEAR:

Sting
Tania Dalton 195/205 (95%)
Belinda Colling 146/180 (81%)
Natalie Avellino 163/204 (80%)

Magic
Irene van Dyk 294/316 (93%)
Tanya Lund 116/163 (71%)

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

Games played: 11
Sting 6 wins, Magic 5 wins

This season:
Round 1, Magic 59 Sting 58.
Semifinal: Magic 61 Sting 51.

Highest score:
Sting 67, round 4, 2000 and round 3, 2003.
Magic: 65, final 2005.

Lowest score:
Sting 39, final 2005.
Magic 39, round 4 2000.

Biggest win:
Sting 28 goals, round 4, 2000.
Magic 26 goals, final 2005.

Best individual shooting:
Sting: Donna Loffhagen 42/43 (98%), round 6, 2004.
Magic: Irene van Dyk 42/42 (100%), round 6, 2004.