Netball: Sting bounce back, Magic still set pace

Defending champions Southern Sting bounced back from three straight losses to beat Canterbury Flames 50-41 and revive their National Bank Cup playoff hopes in Christchurch tonight.

Sting led 27-19 at halftime and extended their lead for their fourth win of the season to leapfrog the Flames into the top-four.

Despite a perfect shooting performance from the Flames' Shelley Norris, 34 from 34, the hosts dropped out of the top-four with their second consecutive loss.

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic were given a huge fright by the winless Capital Shakers before cementing top spot on the points table in Hamilton.

Magic scraped home 55-53 in the top versus bottom clash, having trailed the Wellington-based franchise 19-27 at halftime.

Silver Ferns sharpshooter Irene van Dyk was her reliable self once again, netting 44 goals from 47 attempts for a 93 per cent success rate.

- NZPA