Netball: 50 is the magic number for goal shoot star

Magic star Jo Harten will bring up 50 ANZ Championship appearances on Sunday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Kia Magic goal shoot Jo Harten will play her 50th ANZ Championship game when she takes the court for Sunday's clash against the Southern Steel in Hamilton.

The England Roses international made her ANZ Championship debut in 2012 playing two seasons for the Tactix before moving north last season.

She was instrumental in the Magic's run to the preliminary final last year, landing the winning goal in the nailbiting 50-49 victory over the Swifts in the minor semifinal. That form helped her to jointly secure the 2014 ANZ Championship MVP award.

The prolific scorer brought up her 1500th ANZ Championship goal in the Magic's last outing, against the Fever, and has one of highest single game tallies in the competition's history, scoring 63 goals in round four in 2013.

Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald is delighted for her star goal shoot to be reaching the 50 game milestone.

"Reaching 50 ANZ Championship games is a reflection of the real contribution Jo makes to a team," Fitzgerald said. "She's a true professional, a leader within our group, a real character and an outstanding shooter as we know. I'm sure she'll be looking to put another big performance on court on Sunday and we'll definitely need her, and the entire team, to be on song for this important clash."

With the Magic tied on points with the Steel and a tight finish to the New Zealand conference looming, Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty is urging fans to get along to the Mother's Day encounter.

The match will be played at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on Sunday at 7.10pm, with tickets from Ticketek. A special promotion is available to school netball teams that attend.