Netball: Mystics have golden chance for upset says Willering

An impressive last outing has the Northern Mystics primed to break their duck against Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in a fifth round trans-Tasman netball match at Hamilton on Sunday, former Silver Ferns and Mystics coach Yvonne Willering says.

The Mystics went some way to silencing their critics with a thrilling late charge to down the Melbourne Vixens 56-54 last weekend. They have, however, endured a miserable seven successive defeats to the Magic, the latest a six-goal loss in round two last month.

But Willering believes the key to the outcome lies with in-form shooter Cathrine Latu. A powerhouse under the Mystics hoop this season, the Silver Fern-in-waiting has held sway over most opponents with her positioning, deft off-loading and accuracy.

"At the moment I'd say Mystics must be favourites because their last encounter against Vixens was one of their most consistent," Willering said.

"Even though they've got a couple of youngsters in there, at the moment it looks like no team is able to put a counter to Cathrine Latu.

"She just played a superb holding game and no one had an answer to that. I think the Mystics are also learning how to feed her better and they have more options now, particularly being able to introduce someone like (Australian import) Megan Dehn to provide stability and feeding variety."

However, Willering felt the Vixens orchestrated their own downfall and the Mystics' real test will be how they back up.

Her assessment of the unbeaten Magic was not so favourable.

"I don't think they've reached their full stride. I look at them and think, 'what's going on with you lot'?," she said.

"They look tired, Casey Williams's timing is out and she's getting frustrated, you can see it. They've won their recent games in the last quarter when she (Williams) has actually come to the party either with a critical intercept or a rebound. But she hasn't been consistent and to me she looks tired.

"There's a lack of spark in that team, something's lacking at the moment."

For all that, Willering said it would be unwise to totally discount New Zealand's most successful team in the competition. Traditional slow starters, the Magic have been stilted on attack with their inexperienced attacking line taking time to find their feet after regular Frances Solia was granted leave to help her recover from a debilitating illness.

"The Magic's in a situation where, I think, they can only improve. I think they're lucky with where they are sitting at the moment (top of the table)."

- NZPA