The Pulse began promisingly, breaking the Magic on their first pass, and working the ball through the midcourt with purpose and drive.
The combination between shooters Jane Altschwager and Paula Griffin looked more assured and the links between defence and attack were, for the most, secure.
The Pulse were missing two key defenders in Katrina Grant and Bessie Manu.
Thankfully for the Pulse, the combination between English international Ama Agbeze and Rachel Rasmussen clicked immediately and worked hard to keep the pressure on Magic shooters Irene van Dyk and Jodi Brown.
Agbeze was particularly impressive, as she moved from her more accustomed goal keep position to range more widely at goal defence.
She hunted the ball well, consistently picking up tips and intercepts, and providing real impetus to the Pulse attacking line.
The Magic, after grinding out a three-goal win over Northern Mystics on Monday, looked a little flat and were hit at the end of the first quarter with a serious knee injury to hard-working wing defence Peta Scholz.
Scholz landed awkwardly and was in considerable pain, forcing Magic coach Noeline Taurua to replace her with Jodi Tod.
Goalkeeper Casey Williams moved out to Tod's goal defence position, and former Pulse player Kahurangi Waititi came in at the back.
Taurua made further changes at halftime, benching goal attack Brown, whose work rate had been low key, and bringing on Tanya Lund for the final 30 minutes.
But despite opening up a 13-goal lead at the three-quarter mark, the Magic struggled for cohesion in the closing spell and couldn't build on the margin.
As always, the basis for their win came from the ever-accurate van Dyk, who missed only two shots in the entire game for a 95 per cent success rate.
- NZPA
