Sinclair and Magic hungry to bounce back in netball ANZ Premiership

Magic's Sam Sinclair, a former John Paul College student, pictured in action during the ANZ Premiership match against the Southern Steel. Photo/Michael Bradley Photography

A determined Sam Sinclair and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are aiming to bounce back in the ANZ Premiership.

The Magic, in second, take on fourth placed Northern Mystics at The Trusts Arena, Auckland, in round four of the competition, tomorrow afternoon.

Midcourter Sinclair - a former John Paul College student - said her side were "hungry for a win" after their unbeaten run came to an end in a 72-59 loss to Southern Steel on Monday night.

"Coming off a loss we are even more hungry for a win ... and to get any win during the season is great to boost that morale as a team. It lifts your confidence and lifts you up so every game we have to go in with the mindset that we are hungry for the win and that we really want it," Sinclair said.

"We were outplayed by a pretty smart team [Steel] and also I don't think we played to the best of our ability. We made some pretty dumb mistakes that are uncharacteristic of us and that we haven't made even in training in the last few weeks.

"It's been a pretty reflective week for us. We've had a good opportunity to sit down and to have a think about the things we have done wrong - why they actually happened and what was going through our minds at the time. We were definitely expecting a battle against Steel - it wasn't going to be easy in any way. That game has definitely been an eye-opener for us about how we are tracking and how we can progress from here."

Sinclair said eradicating small errors had been a focus in training this week.

"Against Steel it was a couple of dropped balls, some badly placed passes, some off decision-making at times. There wasn't anything major - we don't have to spend all day training trying to practise those things because they are things we know how to do," she said.

"I don't think any of us are in poor spirits after that game, though, and we had a really good meeting this week. We discussed what went well. No one is feeling down, or depressed about the game because all the things that can be fixed can easily be fixed."

The Mystics come into the clash on the back of a 58-44 win over crosstown rivals the Stars on Wednesday and Sinclair targeted Mystics' attack - especially fellow Silver Fern Maria Tutaia as danger areas.

"Their shooting circle is dangerous. They have the Silver Fern line-up shooters so they are going to be very strong down there, like they are every year so we have to deny them possession as much as possible," she said. "We once again need to get that ball early, before they get it in the circle because no doubt when Maria is on fire she is on fire and she is going to be banging those shots in."

Sinclair stressed her team needed to play a smart brand of netball against a "handy" Mystic defence.

"Down the other end, their defensive unit players are pretty handy at picking up some ball so we have to play some smart netball," she said. "If we can do the things that we know how to do well - ball speed, movement and keeping our vision up we can deny them that ball as much as possible.

"I think it will be a tight game so we need to have a good strong mental game, stay composed and make some good decisions. Both teams will want the result but In the end it will be about the team that can stay the most composed under pressure."

ANZ Premiership - round four

SKYCITY Mystics v WBOP Magic, Sunday, The Trusts Arena, Auckland, 2pm.

Northern Stars v Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse, Monday, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, 7.30pm.

Silvermoon Tactix v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, Wednesday, Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, 7.30pm.