The Magic's English import Jade Clarke. Photo / Getty Images
NSW Swifts 60
Waikato/BoP Magic 43
The Magic have continued their transtasman league freefall, dropping to fourth on the ladder after the classy NSW Swifts dealt the Waikato/Bay of Plenty side a third straight loss.
After a strong start to the season, winning seven of their first eight games, the Magic are now in danger of
missing the play-offs.
They must win their remaining two games, against the Central Pulse and the Adelaide Thunderbirds, to guarantee their place in the top four. Should they drop one of those games, they will have to rely on goal percentage to scrape through.
And the Magic's goal percentage took a big drop after last night's 17-goal loss, letting the Steel leap-frog them into third place after the southern side beat the Canterbury Tactix 53-39 in Invercargill.
Whatever happens, last night's performance in Sydney against the competition leaders would suggest that should the Magic seal their third consecutive play-offs appearance, their title hopes are sketchy at best.
They were completely outclassed by the unbeaten Swifts, who secured the minor premiership with their 11th straight win.
The Magic struggled defensively to contain the slick Swifts forward line, featuring Australian international Catherine Cox and Susan Pratley.
On attack, they looked devoid of ideas and bled possession, racking up 26 turnovers.
The Magic's English import Jade Clarke - who was named last week as permanent replacement for the injured Peta Scholz and met the team in Sydney - was rushed straight into action, starting at wing defence.
Despite barely having a chance to learn her team-mates' names, Clarke was one of the best on court for the side.
The Swifts had a new midcourt combination of their own to bed down. Courtney Tairi was brought into the line-up at wing attack after the mid-week blow of Vanessa Ware's season-ending knee injury during training. But that did not appear to slow the Sydney team's progress.
The home side held a 17-13 lead at the first break, but charged ahead in the second period, closing down the Magic's options on attack to lead 34-21 at halftime.
From there, the Magic had no way back against the clinical Swifts.
