Netball: Magic hold on to win clash of the titans

Waikato Magic 59 Southern Sting 58

The first-round meeting of last year's National Bank Cup finalists was always destined to be a clash of New Zealand's provincial netball titans and last night's battle between the Sting and the Magic lived up to the hype, with Waikato needing some last-minute magic to win.

While some questioned the logic of the two finalists playing each other in the first round, the teams produced a nail-bitting, final-quarter thriller.

Southern Sting coach Robyn Broughton believed her team should have taken the game.

"We always knew they [Magic] would be hard to beat. But we should have won." She cited the loss of their centre pass-off right before the end of the game as a factor in their loss.

Broughton added: "There aren't many teams that could have come back from a deficit like that."

The Sting trailed 20-9 in the first quarter but closed it up to 32-27 at halftime and 43-41 in the third quarter before the last-gasp finish.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua was particularly glad her team was able to hang on. Taurua said: "I think the positives were that it was a starting point. It also gave me areas I know we definitely need to work on. It was always going to be a close game with the calibre of players on the court."

Irene Van Dyk's eagle eye kept the Magic in the match - she missed only two goals throughout. She was satisfied with how her team played, but believes consistency is the key for the rest of the season and Van Dyk said she still has much to work on.

"I need to make sure I get off the baseline more - the feeders can then get me the ball."

Magic's Laura Langman outran and out-charged former Silver Fern and Sting centre, Lesley Rumball.

The first quarter saw a shaky Sting outfit struggle to keep up with the rapid pace set by the defending champions. With nerves clearly evident, the Sting made several unforced errors early on, including a number of infringements in their attacking third. The loss of possession near the shooting circle meant the Sting found themselves struggling to convert attacking ball into points.

After settling down, the Sting began to show what they are capable of and managed to win the second quarter. New Sting player and Australian import goal-shooter Natalie Avellino combined well with goal attack Belinda Colling and Adine Wilson to produce some excellent interplay. At one stage, the pair put up five unanswered goals, putting the Sting within reach of the Magic at halftime.

Avellino swapped to goal attack which saw her do a lot more feeding from the edge of the circle. A blow to the face two minutes from the end of the third quarter saw her needing medical attention. Despite being a little bit unsteady on her feet, Avellino soldiered on to cap off an impressive Sting debut.

Today the Otago Rebels take on the Western Flyers at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin. Rebels coach Janine Southby said she will be fielding a full-strength team captained by seasoned player, Angela Mitchell. Southby is looking forward to the encounter and predicts her team will come out on top.

Southby said: "Obviously we have a lot of respect for their team. I will be operating a full-strength team."

In other matches today, the Force take on the Shakers, while the Auckland Diamonds are set to play the Canterbury Flames.