Netball: Magic dump champs in final rematch

Magic GK Casey Williams attempts to intercept a pass to Swifts' Catherine Cox at Mystery Creek last night. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Magic 63
Swifts 45

After a ho-hum start to the 2009 season, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic finally gave a glimpse of their true potential in Hamilton last night, knocking over the reigning premiers, the NSW Swifts, in emphatic fashion.

Though the Magic boast arguably the most talented lineup in the competition, they have rarely produced such a complete performance in the short history of the ANZ Championships.

The fact they did so against the Swifts, who dealt the Magic some harsh netballing lessons last year, would give the Waikato side no shortage of pleasure.

The Swifts won all three of the match-ups between the two sides last season, including a 65-56 defeat in the grand final.

But this was not the typically slick and polished performance we've come to expect from the Swifts. The Sydney side, who were perhaps still feeling the effects of their bruising one-goal defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds last week, looked rusty and out of sorts.

Magic goal-keep Casey Williams, who was one of the stand-out performers for the home side, said though her side had hoped to go out and dominate, the 63-45 scoreline was a big shock.

"Even if we played our best netball, we never ever expected to win by such a huge margin. But after the first quarter we had to make sure we didn't let off and carried on," she said.

The star defender put their sizeable win down to the Magic's ability to score off turnovers.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua said she was thrilled in her side's ability to build on each quarter.

"I think we've finally started to play to our strengths and the fact we didn't give up and let them back in it was a huge bonus," Taurua said.

But losing experienced campaigners from both ends of the court before halftime did not help the Swifts cause, with Rebecca Bulley and captain Catherine Cox both leaving the court injured after heavy falls.

But it is questionable whether the pair would have been able help slow the Magic juggernaut, with the home side dominating from the opening whistle.

From the outset the Swifts struggled to find a way through the Magic's swarming zone defence, notching up just seven goals in the opening spell.

With a 19-7 advantage at the first break, the Magic always looked comfortable, extending their lead through each quarter.

The opening few minutes resembled tennis more than netball with the ball swinging back and forth through court as both sides struggled to get the ball into their respective shooting circles.

It was the Magic who eventually settled into their rhythm the quickest, with the home side scoring the first three goals of the match.

It was clear from the amount of turnover ball the Magic forced in the opening period that they had done their homework on the Swifts' highly rated attacking line.

The Swifts struck a major blow just after the first break with Australian defender Bulley suffering a cut just above the eye after hitting the deck.

While Bulley was getting patched up the Swifts were forced to reshuffle to their defence, with Kimberley Smith moving across to goal defence, and Samantha May brought on at her place at wing defence.

The loss of Bulley seemed to knock the visitors for six and they struggled to regain their composure.

And the Swifts were to suffer a further blow towards the end of the quarter, losing star shooter Cox after what looked to be a fairly innocuous fall.

But, with Cox failing to emerge from the changing rooms until midway through the third quarter, it suggests the injury was more serious than first appeared.

Leading 32-19 at halftime, the Magic continued to up the ante in the third period, with the entire line-up doing a power of work on defence.

Williams, Joline Henry and Laura Langman in particular picked up some stunning intercepts during the quarter.

And with Maria Tutaia and Irene van Dyk shooting with typical accuracy, the Magic ensured any errors were punished, stretching their lead out to 48-32 heading in to the final spell.

* In last night's other transtasman game, the West Coast Fever marked their return to Perth by beating New Zealand's Northern Mystics 57-46.

It was their first win of the competition after two defeats away from home, and maintained the undefeated run of Australian teams at home to New Zealand opposition.

The Auckland-based Mystics were too loose and fancy free, giving up five intercepts in the opening quarter alone.

They were behind 20-29 at halftime, and found themselves outplayed in all sectors of the court.

- additional reporting, NZPA