Magic 58 Pulse 52
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic spluttered their way to an unconvincing win over Central Pulse in their transtasman netball league match in Napier yesterday.
While the Pulse, 11th out of 12 on the table, have finally played their way into some late season form, the fourth-placed Magic's recent slump continued, despite the six-goal win.
The victory was their first since a round nine win over Canterbury Tactix on May 15, and with play-offs looming, coach Noeline Taurua would have been hoping for a more cohesive performance.
The links between the midcourt and shooting circle still looked stilted, although goal shoot Irene van Dyk was in impressive form, shooting 98 per cent and missing only one shot for the entire match.
In the first half, Tanya Lund provided movement off the ball and her combination with van Dyk looked promising.
Former Silver Fern Jodi Brown, on for the final 30 minutes, proved effective on goal in sinking 11 from 13 to Lund's four from eight, but the Magic didn't secure the game until the final quarter, when they outscored the Pulse 16-8.
The Wellington-based franchise led 13-12 after 15 minutes in a quarter characterised by far too many turnovers from both teams. The Pulse then survived a seven-goal Magic scoring streak early in the second quarter to trail 24-26 at halftime.
Honours were shared 16-16 in the third quarter, and although the Magic eased away, the manner of the win would not have given Taurua much confidence ahead of next week's final round match against second-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie's decision to start with Jamilah Gupwell at goal shoot gave her team more drive into the circle, and more movement outside it.
Gupwell would have to rank as one of the shortest goal shoots in the league - at 1.74m, she gives away nearly 20cm to Pulse captain and customary goal shoot Jane Altschwager. But her combination with goal attack Paula Griffin looked slick. They split the circle well and offering options to their midcourt.
The Pulse's defensive unit also went from strength to strength. Rachel Rasmussen was posted at goal keep, allowing Silver Fern Katrina Grant licence to roam from goal defence while English international Ama Agbeze at wing defence went one-on-one with Magic wing attack Frances Solia.
The Magic were missing Jodi Tod at goal defence, out with a calf injury, and Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams was given a chance to work on her combination with former Pulse defender Kahurangi Waititi.
Meanwhile, the Sydney Swifts are just one game away from a clean sweep of the competition's regular season after stopping the Vixens 58-46 in Melbourne last night.
With the minor premiership and a home semifinal already in their keeping and the defending champion Vixens out of the finals race, the Hisense Arena match was effectively a dead rubber.
However the first half was anything but with the Vixens producing their best netball since their shocking slide into seven successive losses began.
The score was level 25-25 at half-time, however the competition front-runners stepped it up in the third quarter and raced away to a 10-point lead 43-33 by the final break.
- NZPA
