A final-quarter blitz saw the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic railroad Northern Mystics with a 45-39 win in their transtasman netball league match in Auckland.
For three-quarters of the match, the Mystics matched and often bettered the Magic, but in the closing stages, the Auckland-based team wilted.
The stifling defence which characterised last
night's match began early in the first quarter, with both sets of midcourters struggling to find a clear path to their shooters.
The Magic started Jess Tuki at wing attack, and her height helped put pressure on the Mystics' feed into Cathrine Latu and Maria Tutaia.
The quarter featured plenty of turnovers, and Mystics goal defence Anna Scarlett shone with tips and intercepts.
In fact, it took Irene van Dyk almost 10 minutes to sink her first goal as former Southern Steel goal attack Julianna Naoupu took on the bulk of shooting duties.
With the scores tied 11-11 after 15 minutes, Magic coach Noeline Taurua replaced Naoupu with Jamilah Gupwell, while Frances Solia came on at wing attack to add more punch in the midcourt.
But the Mystics lifted to draw level, and the scores remain tied at 23-23 at the half-time break.
Tutaia didn't have her best game, her usual accuracy replaced with a rare inconsistency which left her with a 63 per cent success rate. Fortunately, Latu picked up the slack with her shooting - 81 per cent - and her rebounding.
Mystics coach Debbie Fuller benched Grace Rasmussen to bring on the experienced Megan Dehn at wing attack after halftime, but the Magic lifted again to eke out a narrow 35-34 lead at three-quarter time.
Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams was inspirational for the Magic, hunting the ball with impeccable timing and sparking a series of swift Magic counterattacks.
In tandem with Jodi Tod and wing defence Peta Scholz, the Magic maintained pressure on the Mystics' pass, which finally paid dividends in the fourth quarter as they edged out to a four-goal lead with 10 minutes remaining.
After a slow start, van Dyk finished with the best shooting statistics of the game at 85 per cent.
Defending transtasman champions Adelaide Thunderbirds hit back hard from losing their first two games of the season to thump the West Coast Fever 72-53 at Challenge Stadium last night.
West Coast led 3-0 and 5-2 early, but then, with Erin Bell especially impressive in the first quarter, Adelaide were up 17-13.
The Thunderbirds dominated in the second quarter, taking an emphatic 39-18 lead. NZPA
