Swifts 53
Magic 46
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic have once again hit a late-season speed bump, slumping to their second straight loss after being outclassed by the NSW Swifts in Tauranga last night.
Perhaps Magic coach Noeline Taurua summed it up better: "We got annihilated, basically."
The loss followed their defeat to the Firebirds last week in Brisbane.
Netball standings
But while they were in the hunt against the Queenslanders, the Magic never looked like beating the Swifts, who were dominant from the outset.
A blistering 18-8 second-quarter run saw the visitors effectively seal the match at halftime.
Trailing by 32-18 at the long break, the Magic fought back well in the second half, displaying greater defensive intensity to get the scoreline back to a more respectable seven-goal loss.
But Taurua could not help but feel bitterly disappointed her side did not show that heart earlier in the game.
"I think we never really had the heart and passion that [the Swifts] showed, we were coming off the ball and not attacking hard. We didn't front," she said. "We have been tracking along quite nicely and that was a big dip in performance, which is really disappointing."
The result creates an almighty log-jam at the top of the ANZ Championship ladder, setting the scene for an interesting playoff race over the final three rounds. The Queensland Firebirds have the minor premiership all but wrapped up, topping the standings with 20 points, while the next four teams - the Swifts, Vixens, Magic and Mystics respectively - are all tied on 12 points.
The Mystics had the opportunity to sneak into second place with a win over the Fever in last night's late game in Perth.
The star-studded Swifts, a preseason favourite, have been disappointing in the opening rounds after a string of unconvincing performances.
But after using last week's bye to set a few things right, the Swifts meant business the moment they stepped into the stadium. Barely a shot was missed nor a ball dropped in their slick warmup. And their clinical precision carried over into game time, with the visitors relentless with their through-court defence, even their attackers forcing turnover ball from the Magic.
With the Swifts boasting an all-star defensive line of Australian internationals Mo'onia Gerrard and Rebecca Bulley, and English international Sonia Mkoloma, the Magic needed another strong performance from their new-look forward line of Jess Tuki and Julianna Naoupu.
The pair have performed well against class rivals, but were out of their depth against the savvy Swifts.
They were virtually shut down as options, sending panic into the Magic attack line with passes forced into the shooting circle.
After leading 14-10 at the first break the Swifts unleashed in the second spell, opening out a 10-goal lead in the space of five minutes.
The Magic tinkered with their defensive line, but their real problem area was in attack, as they struggled to get the ball into their goal third.
Trailing 32-18 at halftime, the Magic made further changes bringing on Frances Solia at wing attack and Jamilah Gupwell to goal attack to reinvigorate the sluggish attack end.
Tone-Fitzpatrick, who was this week named as a nominee for the league's rookie-of-the-year award, sparked into life in the third period, throwing herself at every ball, which on one occasion saw her sent flying over the top of the opposition bench.
But their exceptional efforts in defeat were never going to be enough to get them out of the huge hole they found themselves in at halftime.
Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie will not seek to extend her three-year contract with the league strugglers when it expires at the end of this season. McCausland-Durie has children aged eight and 10 and said she wanted to spend time with them.
