Netball: Magic limp on into playoffs

Magic's Casey Kopua and Firebirds' Gabi Simpson face off in Hamilton last night. Photo / Michael Bradley

Firebirds punish home side’s lack of accuracy on attack in Hamilton clash.

New Zealand's sole representative in the transtasman league finals are unlikely to win the crown after limping into the playoffs on the back of four losses in their past five games.

The Magic dropped their final round clash to fellow finalists the Queensland Firebirds in Hamilton last night, with the visitors' punishing a lack of accuracy on attack from the Waikato-Bay of Plenty side.

The Magic are in good company heading into the playoffs on a loss, with the Vixens and Swifts both suffering shock defeats in their final round matches over the weekend, making the Firebirds, who have won their past six matches, the form team in the top four.

The Swifts' 56-53 loss to the Mystics on Sunday night proved costly for the NSW side, as they left the door open for the winner of last night's match to leapfrog them into second place on the ladder on goal percentage. But with the Vixens having amassed an impressive scoring record over the season, they managed to cling on to the minor premiership.

The Vixens will host the Firebirds in next week's major semifinal, while the Magic will fly to Sydney to take on the Swifts in the sudden death minor semifinal.

Neither side were able to score off their turnovers in the opening spell as early nerves seemed to upset fluency on attack. It took 12 minutes before the Firebirds broke the goal-for-goal flow of the match, with a missed shot from Jo Harten, who had a shaky start, punished down the other end of the court by the visitors. That proved the difference in the opening spell as the Firebirds took a 14-12 lead at the first break.

A brilliant piece of defensive work from Leana de Bruin gave the Magic the opportunity to level the score three minutes into the second period.

De Bruin, handed one of the toughest jobs in trying to contain 1.96m Firebirds shooting weapon Romelda Aiken, had a couple of other impressive touches in the spell, but the Magic were unable to reward the efforts of their star defender.

The home side had an opportunity to take the lead just before halftime, but they let the Firebirds off the hook with some lazy passing.

The Firebirds picked up where they left off in the second, spoiling the Magic's first two possessions to immediately jump from two goals clear to six early in the third quarter.

The concentration lapse against a side as accurate on attack proved costly for the Magic, as they had to scrap just to get back in touch.

Again trailing by two goals at the break, the Magic drew level two minutes into fourth quarter thanks to an uncharacteristic error from the Firebirds attack. But once again poor execution on attack proved the Magic's undoing.

Last night's late game between the Central Pulse and West Coast Fever was still in progress at the time this edition went to print.

Firebirds 59
Magic 55