Magic 47 Steel 41
After testing the water in Melbourne, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic are on the board this year fighting off a determined challenge from the Southern Steel in Rotorua last night.
The Steel, without their frontline shooter Daneka Wipiiti, did an impressive job of running with the talent-laden Magic for the first three-quarters of the match.
But after spluttering through most of the game, the home side finally roared into life midway through the final period and once they got up a head of steam they were difficult to stop.
The eventual 47-41 scoreline was widest goal gap between the two sides all match.
With rookie shooter Julianna Naoupu thrust into the starting line-up, the Steel were missing a tall target at the back and were forced to adopt a more mobile gameplan in the shooting circle - keeping the ball low and flat.
Magic defender Casey Williams was frustrated by the lack of opportunities to snaffle ball, and this approach served the Steel well for most of the match.
Trailing by only three goals heading into the pressure-filled final spell, the Steel became more anxious in their approach.
"It's pretty disappointing, we talked about having that patience on attack and I think we lost it in the last quarter," said Steel defender Leana de Bruin.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua did away with the positional rotations that seemed to disrupt her side in their loss to the Melbourne Vixens last weekend, and the home side generally looked more clinical and composed.
But Williams was disappointed it took her side so long to assert their dominance.
"I think we worked really hard right through and I think we just wore them down and that was the difference. Things are going to happen for you if you keep doing the work," she said.
"I think we did take a bit too long to hit top gear, though."
The Magic made a confident and clinical start, taking an 11-7 lead with the attack end producing some inspired early touches.
But as quickly as they found their rhythm, it escaped them in the closing minutes of the opening period as the visitors began to frustrate them into making mistakes.
Magic sharpshooter Irene van Dyk, well-matched against her former South African teammate and close friend de Bruin, had two uncharacteristic misses from underneath the post, and some passes also missed their mark.
Down the other end of the court the Steel were growing in confidence on attack and, as the new combination between Naoupu and captain Megan Dehn settled in, they charged back to take a 15-13 lead at the first break.
The Steel rocketed out to a 19-14 lead before the Magic manufactured an injury timeout to refocus.
The stoppage in play helped settle the Magic camp as they produced a much more consistent second half to the quarter and bring the gap back to one at halftime.
The Magic came out a much more committed side in the second half, putting in a determined effort on defence and displaying more patience on attack.
In last night's late game, in Perth, the West Coast Fever beat the Canterbury Tactix 62-44 The home side led throughout, widening the gap in each quarter but the last, when the Tactix pegged them back by two.
