Netball: Magic thrash Tactix

Khao Watts. Photo / Getty Images.

Canterbury Tactix 42
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 65

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic continue to build momentum in the ANZ Championship, thrashing the lowly Canterbury Tactix 65-42 in Christchurch today.

The Magic, traditionally the strongest of the New Zealand sides in the trans-Tasman netball competition, started their campaign with four straight losses but have won their last four to even their record.

Today's win came all too easily against the bottom-placed side in the competition. The Tactix had managed only one victory from seven heading into the match and, aside from an even opening quarter, never looked like doubling that total today.

A near flawless shooting performance (43 from 44) from Irene van Dyk comfortably accommodated for the Cantabrians, with the Silver Fern goal shoot outscoring the Tactix on her own.

The match was relatively in the balance heading into the first break, with Canterbury doing well to hang with the Magic and trailing by only two.

But, in the second quarter, the visitors' class began to shine through. Their Casey Williams-led defence held the Tactix to just five goals in the quarter as the Magic took a 12-goal lead into the major break.

The gap opened to 20 goals by the final break, as Canterbury had no answer for van Dyk and were not aided by committing 20 turnovers.

And the Magic barely broke a sweat to close out the match in the fourth quarter to move inside the top four for the time being.

Tactix 42

Magic 65

HT: 17-29