Magic conjure up first win of Premiership
Something had to go right for one of the combatants in the opening match of the third round of the Premiership netball competition.
After 60 minutes, it was the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic who claimed their first win of the 2024 season by defeating the Stars 52-49 at Pulman Arena in Auckland yesterday.
The two sides hadn’t recorded a win in their previous two matches, although yesterday’s hosts had picked up a bonus point from their round two defeat to the Tactix in Christchurch.
The Magic had made bright starts in both of their defeats, only to fade away in the following three quarters, and there were nervous looks from the bench in the final 15 minutes after the visitors had led throughout.
The closing stages were emblematic of how a scrappy encounter had progressed until then, as both teams at times looked committed to give their opposition a helping hand with turnovers at the most inopportune times.
When Ali Wilshier’s pass was misplaced with 4:20 left, the Stars trailed just 48-47, but Magic goal defence Georgia Takarangi made what should have been a crucial intercept.
However, the visitors again turned the ball over, got it back from a Georgie Edgecombe intercept - only for Ivana Rowland to miss a shot.
But the Stars, missing the reassuring presence of midcourter Gina Crampton, almost predictably responded with a turnover of their own - the 48th in total of the match - and the Magic finally kept their composure with possession to seal victory.
Claire O’Brien impressed for the winners in stints at centre and wing attack, while effervescent goal shoot Saviour Tui may have had five turnovers but made things happen and converted 17 of her 18 attempts at goal before being replaced by Rowland just before halftime.
“We did it to ourselves,” Stars captain Maia Wilson acknowledged.
“I don’t think necessarily they did it to us … it’s a bit gutting that we have the opportunity to win these games, and it’s the top two inches I think we need to focus on.
Rival skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio admitted her side was desperate for a win.
“I'm super proud. Obviously our first win of the season so totally stoked. How we've been training hasn't been translating to how we have played the last two matches so really cool we were able to dig in.
“We’re still really trying to figure each other out - we’ve obviously got an entirely new attacking end. I think we’re really good when we’re good, but when we’re bad, it’s like we’re throwing to absolutely nobody.”