Magicmoment in gutsy win
The momentum will well and truly remain with the WaikatoBay of Plenty Magic as they head to the trans-Tasman netball league playoffs.
Last night the Magic racked up their ninth win in a row, a franchise record, as they finished the regular season by defeating the Queensland Firebirds 53-43 at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton.
The result means the Magic finish in third spot and host fourthplaced Adelaide Thunderbirds in the sudden-death minor semifinal next Monday night at Claudelands.
The defending champion Firebirds finish the competition in sixth spot, but weren’t an easy proposition last night, pushing the Magic close until the hosts surged away in the final quarter.
The Firebirds had won eight of their 11 games in New Zealand before last night, including their previous seven and had beaten the Magic in all but the first of their previous five encounters.
But the home side, through brilliant displays from Casey Williams and Leana de Bruin, managed to apply plenty of pressure to Firebirds shooters Romelda Aiken and Natalie Medhurst, while Irene van Dyk shot a perfect 29/29 at the other end, getting the measure of Laura Geitz.
The Magic took a one-goal lead to the first break after an encouraging first quarter.
Williams lifted her side with a brilliant intercept on eight minutes and that helped the Magic to an 11-7 advantage.
When Aiken smashed into the goal post she gave up possession and the visitors may have been on the brink of sliding further be- hind, but they managed to narrow the margin.
For the second quarter the Firebirds brought Amy Steel on in place of Shannon Eagland, who took a tumble early on.
The Firebirds’ opening pass of the quarter went astray before Julianna Naoupu immediately gave the ball back.
The hosts again worked their way to a four-goal lead, before the Firebirds clawed their way back.
Van Dyk smashed Geitz to the floor in a big hit and with halftime looming some excellent work from de Bruin and Williams kept the ball in court and the Magic capitalised to go to the main break up 27-24.
The Firebirds went on a 5-1 run to open the third period, taking the lead 29-28.
Getting the ball into the circle suddenly became more tricky for the Magic, and the flow that was there earlier on wasn’t replicated.
Williams plucked two intercepts during the quarter to lift her side, helping the hosts get out to 40-36 by three-quarter time.
Firebirds captain Lauren Nourse only entered the fray at the start of the final quarter, on at centre in place of Elissa Macleod.
It was the Magic though that seized the momentum, with van Dyk collecting well and getting her side out to 43-37. The Magic then got their A game out and went on a brilliant six-goal run, with two superb de Bruin intercepts helping their cause.
With two minutes left, Naoupu was treated for a leg injury and was replaced by Jessie Waitapu, with the Magic winning the quarter 13-7.