Firebirds 53 Magic 49
Pulse 63 Fever 61
Irene van Dyk's heir apparent as international netball's most prolific shooter marred the New Zealand veteran's 100th appearance for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Brisbane last night as the Queensland Firebirds firmed as favourites to secure their first transtasman championship.
The Firebirds remain unbeaten, surviving a third quarter resurgence by New Zealand's best franchise to secure the win.
In a potential preview of next month's grand final, Romelda Aiken emerged as the dominant shooter in the top of the table showdown with 36 goals from 39 attempts as the Jamaican beanpole refused to be hemmed in by Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams.
In contrast, the Firebirds' defence made Van Dyk work incredibly hard for her goals and, although the 38-year-old missed only one of her 26 attempts, the opponents succeeded in disrupting the supply lines sufficiently to place more scoring onus on Julianna Naoupu.
The goal attack responded to the challenge, particularly in the third quarter as the Magic trimmed a four-goal halftime deficit to one heading into the run home.
Naoupu was almost as prolific as her illustrious teammate, with 24 goals although she was astray with five attempts.
Despite the defeat the Magic remain in second spot, safely in play-off contention but with plenty to ponder before a possible rematch.
In last night's other game, the Central Pulse recorded multiple wins for the first time in a season after scraping past the West Coast Fever in extra time last night.
The perennial league stragglers now have as many wins this season as they recorded in the opening three years of the transtasman league, with the Fever joining the Canterbury Tactix as the Pulse's scalps in 2011.
The home side started strongly in Porirua, surging to an early 14-8 lead, but the Fever answered with a roll of their own.
This proved to be a pattern throughout the match, the Pulse enjoying healthy leads at several stages, but never being able to maintain that intensity.
Pulse shooter Caitlin Thwaites had two opportunities to nail the win in regular time.
The first was a shot under the posts with just over a minute and a half left, which would have given her side three-goal lead.
The second was a mid-range penalty shot after regulation time had been called with the scores level at 48-all.
She missed, sending the Pulse to territory they know well - extra time.
However after enduring heartbreak in five extra time matches throughout their history, this time the Wellington side were finally able to convert the time into a win.
The Pulse's defensive trio of Bessie Manu, Katrina Grant and Daya Pritchard showed poise in the pressure-filled stages, forcing plenty of turnover ball from the visitors to ensure their side had the bulk of possession to grind out victory.
