Magic honing in on playoff

Rotorua netball fans will need to wait until the final whistle on Sunday to find out if Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic have secured a semifinal at the Energy Events Centre.
If Magic win by a big enough margin, they will host the semifinal in Rotorua on Monday, July 13. The team's other home venue, Hamilton's Mystery Creek Events Centre, has been secured for a preliminary final and the competition final later in the month should Magic get that far.
Events and Venues general manager Peter McLeod told The Daily Post availability of the Rotorua venue was confirmed when the draw was released several months ago. This season Magic have played two round robin games in Rotorua, both of which have been sell-outs.
"We pencilled them in right from the outset," Mr McLeod said.
Should Magic succeed in their quest, tickets for the game - likely to be against the Melbourne Vixens - would go on sale to the public through Ticketdirect on Wednesday, July 8. Tickets will cost $40 for the bulk of the adult seats or $35 for limited viewing and $20 for children under 15.
Magic media manager Sheryl Dawson was hopeful of another sell-out, but explained tickets would be capped at 3200 to meet media requirements.
 Magic, who currently lead the ANZ Championship on points differential, play the Adelaide Thunderbirds across the Tasman on Sunday - a game they must win to host the major semifinal in Rotorua against the second-placed finishers.
However, the match between the Melbourne Vixens and the Wellington-based Central Pulse on Saturday will play a part in the semifinal hosting race.
Currently sitting in second place, the Vixens have a chance of snatching the minor premiership if they notch up a decent win against the Pulse - a team that has won just one game in two seasons.
The margin of Saturday's game will determine how many goals Magic must score to win the minor premiership.
If Magic finish second they will travel to the minor premiers' home base to play their game. If they win, they go into the grand final at Hamilton's Mystery Creek Events Centre two weeks later, however if Magic lose, they will have another life by playing the winner of the third and fourth-placed playoff - also scheduled for next weekend - in the preliminary final in Hamilton.
The winner of that game will contest the grand final for the overall championship title.
* The match between the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Adelaide Thunderbirds will be screened live on Sky Sport 1 on Sunday, 4pm.