Netball: Magic win after late intercept

Tactix 48
Magic 50

For the second week in a row, the difference between winning and losing for the Canterbury Tactix came down to one pass.

An intercept by star Magic defender Casey Williams with 35 seconds remaining broke the goal-for-goal pattern of the final six minutes. Goal shoot Irene van Dyk - bizarrely playing the second half without international goal attack Maria Tutaia - then calmly shot the decisive goal to make victory safe.

The Tactix were looking to avenge a heartbreaking extra-time loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds when they hosted the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Christchurch yesterday to open round five of the ANZ Championship. It wasn't to be.

After a slow start, the home side played catch-up netball and drew level with the potent Magic side during the final term. For five minutes, the old Kiwi foes went goal for goal and, when the Tactix had a centre pass inside the last minute, it looked likely the red and blacks would play extra time for a second consecutive week.

But Magic defender Williams pounced on a soft pass intended for goal attack Anna Thompson. Seconds later, the ball was in the safe hands of van Dyk and it was game over.

Tactix captain Julie Seymour, whose attempted pass was cut off, expressed remorse at the way her side's brave assault ended.

"Can I have that last pass again?" Seymour said.

"It's typical that someone with Casey's class comes out and gets that crucial ball. We'd love to have that winning feeling. There wasn't much in it ... we can take heart that we can foot it with the top teams but we've got to learn how to win."

The victory ends a torrid week for the Magic players, slammed by the Australian media for not participating in the ritual end of game huddle after their soul-destroying 11-point loss to the Firebirds in last week's Anzac clashes.

But the Magic showed little signs of the off-court distraction. They started against Canterbury in their usual fashion, leading by four at the end of the first quarter. From there, the visitors were forced to hold and block out the 3500 crowd cheering on the Tactix.

Magic co-captain Joline Henry said: "When you come off a loss, you reflect a lot more and question yourself, none more so than when you look in the mirror. We're building towards where we want to go."

Both teams were slow opening the scoring. The Magic needed nearly two minutes to net a goal, while the Tactix took even longer. The ball didn't even enter the home side's shooting circle until three minutes had passed.

From then on, it was the Magic's quarter, as they worked the ball clinically through the midcourt, giving wing defence Laura Langman and centre Frances Solia plenty of time to set up feeding positions on the arc.

Part way through the opening term, the Tactix changed tactics and employed a zone defence in the middle third, clogging up the free movement of the Magic. By the end of the first 15 minutes, the Tactix had woken up and, despite trailing by four, had taken only one less attempt on goal. The problem was getting the ball into the hands of goal shoot Jodi Brown and Thompson.

Much of the first half belonged to Tutaia, who found her superb long range shot, a handy skill to have in the space she gained as the Tactix defenders concentrated on van Dyk. Tutaia's first half shooting accuracy was 93 per cent.

Despite the hectic pace set by the Magic, the Canterbury side stayed with its opponents and pegged the difference back to three.

Sensing a shift in momentum, Magic coach Noeline Taurua made changes, pushing Williams back to goal keep and benching Leana de Bruin. Jodi Tod came on at goal defence and surprisingly Tutaia was also given a rest, replaced by Jess Tuki.

Taurua said the change was to give Tuki valuable court time and to gauge how she performed under pressure.

Little did Taurua or Tuki know the pressure that was to come. But Tuki held her own and didn't back down from the close attention of English international Sonia Mkoloma, converting two from two after just two minutes of play.

In a third quarter that ebbed and flowed, the Magic led by as many as five, only for the Tactix to close the gap to two points when a free flowing game eventually opened up for them - setting the scene for a thrilling final quarter.

Canterbury coach Helen Mahon-Stroud opted for fresh legs, injecting Phillipa Finch at wing defence for

the final term. Her impact was immediate, getting a tip off the first Magic centre pass.

A fired-up Mkoloma also inspired her team but, while the Tactix competed well for much of the final term, the Magic used their experience and discipline to clinch victory.