KEY POINTS:
Magic 56
Mystics 52
Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua believes her team are still playing at only 60 per cent of their potential after making it two from two for the season with a win over the Northern Mystics in Rotorua.
Though the Magic have opened the season with wins over two of the competition heavyweights in the Mystics and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Taurua said her side still has a lot of areas to tidy up on with inconsistency a big concern.
"I would like to see the positives in it, in that defensively both teams we've played have been very strong and even though we have not played to our full ability, we are still coming out with wins," Taurua said.
"I think if we're looking at percentages, we're probably only at 60 or 70 per cent ... but shoot, when we hit that 100 or even 80 or 90, we're going to be a really good package."
With both sides stacked with past and present Silver Ferns, yesterday's match between the "big two" New Zealand franchises was a tight, bruising contest - made even more so with the addition of a certain formidable defensive powerhouse.
Mystics defender Vilimaina Davu made her first appearance in the ANZ Championship starting at goal-keep opposite the irrepressible Irene van Dyk. Mystics coach Yvonne Willering showed a lot of faith in the former Silver Fern who has had very little match play leading in to the competition.
Initially, it looked like an ill-fated move with Davu struggling to keep up with the pace in the early stages of the match. But the robust goal-keep certainly warmed to her task as the match went on and managed to pick off a few stunning steals, reminiscent of the Davu of old.
Willering said the inclusion of Davu in the starting line-up was a tactical ploy with the 1.9m defender adding more height in the circle. While she admitted Davu was shaky at times, Willering was pleased the former Fijian coach played out the entire match.
"You have to appreciate Vili has only had limited court time in an actual realistic game situation so I was pleased with the way she came through it," Willering said.
"If you look at it, she has such passion in the game and she lifts the players around her and I think that comes into it as well."
With Davu in the line-up, Leana de Bruin started at goal-defence and Sheryl Scanlan moved out to the wing which made for some impressive through-court defence.
After going goal-for-goal for much of the opening quarter, the Magic put their foot on the accelerator later in the spell to go up by four points at the first break.
The Mystics seemed to lift a notch defensively in the second period as de Bruin and Davu looked to communicate better in the circle. With Temepara George also proving to be a menace on defence, showing no signs of predicted fatigue from her heavy Dancing With The Stars schedule, the Mystics managed to peg back the deficit and get back in front, taking a 27-26 lead at the halftime break.
But, as was the case in last week's upset loss to the Canterbury Tactix, the Mystics were hamstrung by hesitancy in the shooting circle in the third period. Goal shoot Cathrine Latu appeared reluctant to put up the shots, and as a result the Magic were able to force a number of turnovers from the extra passes around the circle.
By the end of the third quarter, the Magic had restored their four-goal advantage they held at the first break, and while the Mystics fought valiantly in the frantic and fast-paced final quarter, the home side were able to maintain their lead.
The apparent loss of confidence concerned Willering, who copped pre-season criticism that her young shooting end could be a liability in pressure matches.
"In that last quarter, rather than being patient we just became hesitant and while we've got to respect the opposition I think we just played a little bit too safe there," she said.
The Canterbury Tactix continued to defy pre-season predictions they would linger in the bottom half of the competition standings, after a 50-44 win over the NSW Swifts in Christchurch.
Sharelle McMahon's Melbourne Vixens also notched up their second win of the competition after overwhelming the Queensland Firebirds 62-52 in Melbourne.
