Netball: Magic's tough haul to regain faith

Without Peta Scholz on Monday night, the Magic's experience was stretched too thin. Photo / Christine Cornege

Their late-season form had promised so much, but in the space of 60 minutes of cringe-worthy netball the Magic's title credentials have taken a massive - and some might suggest unrecoverable - blow.

An 11-goal trouncing at the hands of the Queensland Firebirds in Monday night's major semifinal has diminished Kiwi fans' hope the Magic would lift the transtasman league crown after three previous failed finals campaigns.

While the Magic still have a lifeline remaining in the finals, many suspect they will struggle to bounce back from such a traumatic loss.

The Magic will battle it out with the Northern Mystics in Sunday's preliminary final at Mystery Creek for a chance to have another crack at the Firebirds in the grand final.

But on the strength of Monday night's stuttering performance, it is difficult to see the Magic challenging the unbeaten Queensland side in a rematch, should they win that opportunity.

Their chances of success may hinge on the fitness of veteran midcourter Peta Scholz, who was rested against the Firebirds as she continues to recover from a knee injury.

Without Scholz on Monday night, the Magic's experience was stretched too thin.

Their three Silver Ferns stars - Casey Williams, Laura Langman and Irene van Dyk - were guilty of trying to overcompensate for shortcomings in other areas of the court, to the detriment of their own game.

The 50-39 scoreline in the end probably flattered the Magic, who early in the final quarter trailed by 16 goals.

It was a performance ominously reminiscent of their 15-goal loss to the Melbourne Vixens in the 2009 major semifinal, which they backed up with another heavy loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the preliminary final.

It is not surprising, then, that many are questioning whether the Magic can recover from such a confidence-sapping loss.

Certainly Magic coach Noeline Taurua sounded defeated after Monday night's performance and was unwilling to contemplate their next match-up against the Mystics until she had a chance to properly absorb the loss.

"I think at the moment we're not feeling too well about ourselves," she said. "We were humiliated by the product they put out on court and out of 100 per cent we did 5 per cent well.

"The first thing we have to do is get over it and then look at moving on."

Compare that sentiment to the mood in the Mystics' camp following their upset win over the NSW Swifts in Sunday's minor semifinal.

The Mystics are riding a wave of momentum after producing what was undoubtedly their best performance in four seasons of the competition, dominating the star-studded Swifts' line-up from the outset.

It was an unusually methodical and mature performance from the Mystics, who in the past have been accused of being all flair and no substance.

The most notable improvement in the Mystics game over the weekend was in their error count. They had averaged 21.4 turnovers during the regular season, but committed just 12 against the Swifts.

Mystics coach Debbie Fuller highlighted her side's more patient and clinical approach as being one of the key factors in their late-season turnaround.

"It goes to show what we can do if we don't throw the ball away," she said.

But the Mystics will have to step up several notches this week and next if they are to halt the Firebirds' juggernaut, who look on track to become the fourth Australian team to claim the ANZ Championship title.

The Swifts, Vixens and Thunderbirds won the first three titles. Now the Firebirds are on the verge of eclipsing their efforts by lifting the trophy without losing a match.

- Additional reporting NZPA