Netball: Champs weave special magic

Magic wing defence Laura Langman takes a pass during last night's final. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Magic 67 Sting 43

Just Magic. The defending champions made sure the first national final held in the North Island would have an appropriate ending at Mystery Creek last night.

A year ago, Noeline Taurua's team whipped the Sting by 26 goals in the final. By the end they'd given that record a real shake and the puff had gone from the Sting well before the end of this National Bank Cup final.

A crushing third quarter did the job, the Magic outscoring their opponents 16-9, 35-16 in the second half, and at the end Magic arms were flung in the air as streamers and ticker tape showered the players.

And there was a hint that this might be the start of a reign to match the six-straight titles of their opponents.

Before the start, the warmup man earned his corn whipping the capacity 5000 crowd into something resembling a revivalist gathering - and 5000 spectators meant 10,000 beating sticks. The din was deafening.

Approaching halftime, Sting coach Robyn Broughton, if she'd had a couple of sticks handy, looked as if she'd have happily bopped the umpires.

The Sting players clearly felt they were not getting the rub of the green. At that point, the Magic had eased five goals clear, 32-27 but they were still in the hunt.

Perhaps determined to silence those doubting whether they had the legs to last the distance, and maybe also inspired to set right the 10-goal thumping they took from the Magic a fortnight ago, the Sting scrapped desperately.

They were quite happy to work the ball about, back and across the court in the search for an opening. In contrast, the Magic leant more towards Route One netball - as you would with a shooter with the height and reach of Irene van Dyk.

The first half was tight and passionate, with plenty of bumps, the most spectacular from Magic wing defence, Silver Fern Laura Langman, who charged knee up into Belinda Colling's thigh.

At soccer's World Cup, Langman would have got a red card; this being netball, she got a pat on the head and her bib retied by Colling, and the free pass.

The critical difference lay in the shooting percentages.

At halftime, van Dyk had potted 23 of 24 and goal attack Tanya Lund a perfect nine from nine; Donna Loffhagen 12 from 14 and Colling 15 from 19 and that set the pattern.

Loffhagen is a terrific athlete but she'd be a lousy poker player. She makes no attempt to hide her emotions and last night several of her teammates made their feelings on the umpiring calls apparent.

The Magic seemed able to find more space in the shooting circle, despite strenuous efforts from Sting goal keep Megan Hutton. At the other end, Casey Williams and Joline Henry made life more difficult for the Sting shooters.

Natalie Avellino, the hero of last week's semifinal win over the Force, was on at goal shoot for the third quarter, but could make no difference as the gap steadily grew. Going into the final quarter it was 12 goals and the Magic kept piling on the agony.