Last year's runners-up Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic smoothly slipped into top gear, opening their trans-Tasman netball championship campaign with a crunching 51-38 win over the Northern Mystics in Auckland tonight.
The Magic, fielding six Silver Ferns in attack and defence who were linked by Samoa international Frances Solia at centre,
operated with a ruthless efficiency that left the Mystics gasping at times.
Despite having a new coach at the helm with Te Aroha Keenan in place of former New Zealand coach Yvonne Willering, sacked after one-year into a three year term, the result was no different for the Mystics who also lost both round-robin encounters last year with the Magic, 52-56 and 59-45.
The Mystics were simply unable to unlock the Magic's circle with Casey Williams and Leana de Bruin throwing up a formidable defensive wall that limited them to 48 attempts at goal in total.
Wing defence Joline Henry was a thorn in their side, breaking up attacks up in midfield and then finding her shooters with her trademark long range bullets into the circle.
Magic's starting shooters Cathrine Latu and Grace Rasmussen shot at 92 and 90 per cent respectively in the first half but only shared 22 attempts at goal.
At the other end, Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia had an ample supply of ammunition from Solia and wing attack Laura Langman.
Together, they made 39 attempts in the first half with van Dyk sinking 24 from 26.
Langman was impressive at wing attack, always finding space to be available to make or take pass.
Overall, Van Dyk sank 31 from 37 while Tutaia was equally impressive, landing 20 from 27, mostly from long range.
The Magic raced out to a 16-8 lead in the first quarter, setting the foundation for a 33-20 lead at halftime. There was no coming back from there for the Mystics.
- NZPA
