Netball: Sting weave the Magic

By JULIE ASH

Netball New Zealand's version of Michael Schumacher rolled out of Hamilton yesterday with their unbeaten record intact, but only just.

The Southern Sting held off a spirited comeback from the Magic to win 63-60 in a thrilling final quarter.

With just one match remaining in the round robin competition the Sting have well proved they are on track to claiming their sixth consecutive National Bank Cup title.

In other round six results the Flames trounced the Flyers 75-33, the Diamonds kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 53-45 win over the Shakers and the Force beat the Rebels comfortably, 46-37.

But it was the match in Hamilton yesterday between two of the top teams that attracted most interest.

After a nervous start from both sides, the Sting settled into their game early in the second quarter and initially looked as though they were going to run away with the match.

Although the defending champions had little trouble bringing the ball through court, the Magic were extremely hesitant at times and had great difficulty finding Irene van Dyk.

The Magic also struggled to contain the Sting attack, particularly Donna Loffhagen and Adine Harper, whose timing was perfect.

Ahead 33-27 at halftime, the Sting's lead was reduced to 49-44 going into the last quarter, which marked the start of the Magic comeback.

Throughout the last two minutes the Sting clung grimly to a one-goal lead.

The Magic had the chance to equal on two occasions but had their plans spoiled, first by Sting wing attack Adine Harper, who nabbed an intercept, and then through an error of their own on their centre pass off.

"You can't all of a sudden decide to play the game in the last quarter," said a disappointed Magic captain Jenny-May Coffin.

"But it is the same old story.

"We play three-quarters of a game average and then put the pressure on in the last quarter. That is what the Sting are very good at ... they play consistently throughout the whole game."

Coffin said she hoped more than anything the two sides would meet again.

"We know they can be beaten and we went into this game believing that and that is probably why we got so close. They have just got steady players in every single position.

"Natalie Avellino really opens up that attacking end.

"She, more than anyone else, does the damage in that team.

"But it is just the little basic things, a step here, throwing the ball away there. It cost us."

Sting coach Robyn Broughton said the win was a testament to her side's composure.

"I watched them out there today and I thought they absorbed all that pressure, they absorbed all that noise, they absorbed everything and kept focused," Broughton said.

"But they are just relentless. They don't stop going, they don't think they are not going to win.

"It was good that they stuck with it and we stuck with it.

"I think they thought they were going to take us under pressure."

Broughton concedes she was a little concerned how her defenders would contend with the much taller Van Dyk, who landed 42 shots from 42 attempts.

"I thought our two defence [Anna Galvan and Jenny Ferguson] worked really hard and picked up the scraps.

"It is just contending with that real high ball and that big split leg which one day someone is going to break their neck over," she said.

Although the Sting are going to take some beating, a Tall Ferns series the weekend of the National Bank Cup final may rule out New Zealand basketball rep Loffhagen, which would be a huge blow to the side.

"We have got her for the semis and then we'll just work step by step," Broughton said.

Shooting stats

MAGIC

I. van Dyk 42 from 42

A. Senio 18 from 20.

STING

N. Avellino 21 from 27

D. Loffhagen 42 from 43.