Netball: Magic pipped by Firebirds

Irene van Dyk's heir apparent as international netball's most prolific shooter marred the New Zealand veteran's 100th appearance for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Brisbane tonight as the Queensland Firebirds firmed as favourites to secure a maiden trans-Tasman championship.
The Firebirds remain unbeaten, surviving a third quarter resurgence by New Zealand's best franchise, to close out a 53-49 victory.
In a potential preview to next month's grand final Aiken emerged as the dominant shooter in the top of the table showdown with 36 goals from 39 attempts as the Jamaican beanpole refused to be hemmed in by Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams.
In contrast Australian international defender made Van Dyk work incredibly hard for her goals - and although the 38-year-old missed just one of her 26 attempts the Firebirds succeeded in disrupting the supply lines sufficiently to place more scoring onus on Julianna Naoupu.
The goal attack responded to the challenge, particularly in the third quarter as the Magic trimmed a four-goal halftime deficit to one heading into the run home.
Naoupu was almost as prolific as her illustrious teammate, with 24 goals although she was astray with five attempts.
Far from being a shoot out between Van Dyk and Aiken, their support acts both featured prominently - Natalie Medhurst, a potential replacement for Sharelle McMahon at July's world championships in Singapore pressed her claims with 17 from 21 including a couple of clutch goals down the stretch.
The Firebirds led at every break to end Van Dyk's tendency of celebrating milestone matches in appropriate fashion.
The Silver Ferns helped her celebrate becoming the world's most capped netballer with a record-breaking 25-goal win over Australia in October 2005; they also ensured van Dyk's 100th test for New Zealand was memorable, producing a 16-goal win over Australia in 2009.
However, the Queenslanders had no qualms about spoiling the occasion as they beat another supposedly genuine rival for the title.
Having never made the semifinals of the three previous tournaments the Firebirds have now beaten the NSW Swifts (twice), Melbourne Vixens, and Northern Mystics.
Medhurst, Aiken, Geitz and midcourt dynamo Lauren Nourse all predictably played influential roles.
Aiken was flawless until the dying seconds of the second quarter, nailing her first 19 attempts and although her accuracy wavered briefly in the third term she hit the target when it counted as the Magic threatened to mount a successful comeback.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua sprang a selection surprise by starting Frances Solia at wing attack and Jodi Tod at goal defence - the experienced though out of favour duo's first starts since round two.
However, the move backfired and both were replaced during the second quarter by Jess Tuki and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick.
Williams switched from goal keep to wide-ranging GD role in a bid to disrupt the link to Aiken with limited success - she still clutched enough pin point passes to help the Firebirds forge to a telling six-goal buffer leading into the main break.
Despite the defeat the Magic remain in second spot, safely in play-off contention but with plenty to ponder before a possible rematch.