Magic 53 Tactix 36
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic head into their bye round comfortable with their position on the ladder, but still with plenty to mull over after some mixed performances in the opening rounds of the transtasman league.
The Magic's victory over the Tactix in Christchurch last night typified their start to the season - brilliant in patches, but just when they seemed to find their rhythm, they went off-key.
Although the 17-goal scoreline is a fairly convincing margin, the Magic were not always convincing in their execution, committing far too many basic errors on attack.
Coach Noeline Taurua will know the Magic would not get away with 26 turnovers against some of the more clinical Australian sides.
Magic captain Laura Langman admitted her side let themselves down on attack with poor finishing.
"We were getting great turnover ball, but just those links and our finishing we really need to polish on. Our attack end would not be happy with that performance," she said.
But if the Magic were untidy at times, the Tactix were downright awful, with poor handling and miscommunications on attack marring their play.
The home side were also guilty of over-committing themselves on defence, leading to far too many clumsy contacts and an altogether scrappy match.
The Magic made a strong start to the match, leading by six and then nine after the opening two quarters.
But a break-out third quarter proved the decisive period of the match, with the visitors outscoring the Tactix 15-7 for the spell.
Leading 43-26 at three-quarter time, Taurua rejigged her entire line-up as she looked to inject bench players Jess Tuki and Kahurangi Waititi into the match. Tuki came on at goal attack, with Jodi Brown moving back to goal shoot to give Irene van Dyk a rare spell on the sidelines.
Even with the widespread changes, the Magic managed to hold on to their healthy lead, with the Tactix confidence having been eroded after a poor third-quarter effort.
The NSW Swifts will also take a well-earned rest next week, satisfied in the knowledge they sit top of the table and are still yet to really hit their straps. They made it five from five in Newcastle yesterday, overwhelming the West Coast Fever 55-43.
Just when it seemed the Central Pulse's horror start to this year's transtasman league couldn't get any worse, it did.
Stranded winless at the bottom of the table after four rounds, the Pulse were exposed in all areas of the court as they were outclassed 75-40 by Adelaide Thunderbirds in Wellington on Saturday.
The Pulse's embarrassing performance will only strengthen calls for a New Zealand team to be ditched from the competition.
