Netball: Erratic Mystics fall to Firebirds

Nothern Mystics Laura Langman on the attack against Queensland Firebird player Caitlyn Nevins/ Photo / Nick Reed

Mystics 47
Firebirds 53

An erratic showing from the Northern Mystics in their loss to the Queensland Firebirds perfectly summed up the Auckland side's season thus far in 60 minutes: dysfunctional in patches followed by moments of sheer brilliance.

But there are no competition points on offer for the team that contributes most to the highlights reel. Instead it was the steady, compose and well-drilled Firebirds side that walked away with the two points after grinding out a six-goal win at Trusts Stadium tonight.

The Mystics have never beaten the Firebirds in nine meetings - the only Australian team they are yet to get the better of. They had their opportunities to do so tonight, but were ultimately undone by their inability to put the Firebirds under consistent pressure.

The homeside got off to a muddled start, as the Firebirds capitalised on a string of early turnovers to jump out to an eight-goal lead after eight minutes. They looked equally as flustered in the third period, but interspersed in between, when the Mystics attack clicked into gear, were some periods of impressive and cohesive play, with the homeside outscoring the Firebirds in the second and third quarters.

Mystics captain Maria Tutaia was particularly influential during those spells, with her stunning long-range shots providing a boost for her side. The star shooter shouldered the bulk of the shooting duties, taking the pressure off Cathrine Latu, who was well contained by inspirational Firebirds defender Laura Geitz, to finish with figures of 28/30.
Still it was not enough to outscore the Firebirds, who made the most of import shooter Romelda Aiken's free-scoring abilities.

Mystics midcourter Camilla Lees struggled to put her finger on the cause of her side's inconsistency, which she said is becoming deeply frustrating. The biggest frustration tonight was the way her team dug themselves into such a deep hole early on through soft turnovers and a lack of patience on attack.

"I think the most disappointing thing was the start of the game, we found ourselves so far down after the opening 10 minutes and it made it really hard to come back," said Lees.
"I'm proud of the fact we did stick at it and finished within six goals, but it really counts for nothing."

Despite the loss, the Mystics still sit atop the New Zealand conference, but they will take little satisfaction from given they are yet to claim an Australian scalp this year. Come play-offs time the Mystics won't have the comfort of their New Zealand conference cocoon.

In today's other match-ups, the in-form West Coast Fever continued their unbeaten run after holding off a late final quarter charge by the Magic in Perth.

Down by up to 11 goals late in the third quarter, the youthful Waikato-Bay of Plenty side produced a stirring late quarter comeback to close within three goals of the homeside with a couple of minutes left on the clock before the Fever pulled away to claim a 54-49 win.

The Magic's late heroics could not gloss over an erratic showing over the first three quarters, with the impressive Fever side doing a good job of forcing the visitors into errors as they defended the Challenge Trophy for the fifth successive time.

The Vixens held a competitive Mainland Tactix at bay to record a 56-52 win in Melbourne. Hot favourites coming into the match, the Vixens had to rely on all their experience to pocket the points against the winless Tactix who pushed the defending champions all the way.