Magic 60
Pulse 50
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic overcame a stubborn Central Pulse last night to secure second spot in the transtasman netball league and set up a major semifinal showdown with the Queensland Firebirds.
The Magic, who went into the match at the Taupo Events Centre already assured of their place in the play-offs but needing to win to guarantee a double-life in the post-season, came under threat from a Pulse side desperate to give departing coach Yvette McCausland-Durie a winning send-off.
Led by the impressive goal keep Casey Williams, the home team produced a solid defensive display and then had the accuracy of 38-year-old shooter Irene van Dyk to count on at the other end to make the Pulse pay for their failure to make the most of their opportunities.
Williams had six interceptions and seven deflections while van Dyk, who moved from goal shoot to goal attack for the third quarter, landed 37 of her 39 attempts.
Pulse shooter Caitlin Thwaites, who nailed 40 from 46 shots at goal, tried her best to keep the Pulse close, and after trailing the 14-11 after the first quarter levelled the match midway through the second stanza before the Magic took a 29-26 lead into the break.
The positional switch of van Dyk by coach Noeline Taurua proved a masterstroke as the Silver Fern ace landed 11 from 11 and the Magic kicked clear of the Pulse with a sizzling 18-goal third quarter to edge out to a 47-36 lead, and safety, heading into the final 15 minutes.
With Williams to the fore defensively the Magic denied the Pulse, who handed 17-year-old goal attack Brooke Leaver a debut late in the match, a way back into the game and Taurua was afforded the luxury of making a raft of changes late on with the second place finish in the bag.
The Magic now face the unbeaten Firebirds in Brisbane on Monday. The winner advances straight to the final while the loser plays the winner of Sunday's match between the Northern Mystics and the NSW Swifts for a place in the final.
Southern Steel coach Robyn Broughton's future is in doubt after the franchise opted to advertise the position for the 2012 season.
Her contract expires at the end of the 2011 season and franchise chairwoman Janet Copeland said the decision to advertise the role was made with the future in mind.
- NZPA
