Mystics captain Maria Tutaia. File photo / Jason Dorday
A controversial call in the dying seconds handed the Mystics an unlikely draw against the Magic in Rotorua tonight as the Auckland side pulled off yet another stunning escape act.
After trailing by six to eight goals through most of the second half, the Mystics launched a spirited comeback over the final five minutes of the match, inspired by a couple of key changes at each end of the court. They looked to have left their run too late however, with the Magic side still up by two with 20 seconds left on the clock.
But Mystics captain Maria Tutaia had other ideas, slotting two brilliant long-range goals in the final 14 seconds to snatch the 45-all draw. Tutaia's last shot at goal came about in controversial circumstances, with the umpires blowing an off-the-ball penalty in the goal circle shortly after the Mystics centre pass. The call came just before time was up on the clock, handing the Tutaia a chance to level the match from a long range shot from the top of the circle. The ace shooter, who has been in commanding form for the Mystics over the last few weeks, calmly slotted the goal amid a loud booing from the home crowd.
As confusion reigned on the Magic team bench, the Mystics celebrated wildly on court after pulling off yet another Houdini act, following come from behind wins against the Pulse and Steel the previous two weeks.
Tutaia was also instrumental in those two outings, particularly against the Steel, netting 92 per cent of her attempts at goal - most of which from long range. But the star shooter was quick to play down her own heroics, instead deflecting praise to her teammates.
"I have been put in that situation quite a bit - I have been around quite a while now," she said.
"It was just such great effort from the girls to fight back and put us in that position."
It was a devastating result for the Magic who had dictated the pace of the game for much of the opening 45 minutes. The young Magic side had their netballing neighbours under real pressure by mid-way through the second spell, when they opened up a six-goal lead courtesy of the brilliant defensive efforts of Leana de Bruin and Kristiana Manu'a.
Trailing 28-21 at the long break, it looked to be all over for the Mystics when their key strike weapon Cathrine Latu was forced from the court with an ankle injury late in the third quarter. But replacement shooter Paula Griffin did an impressive job of opening up the attack end for the visitors, while the injection Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick at goal keep in the same injury break also paid dividends, with the 1.88m defender coming up with some good ball down the home stretch.
Magic midcourter Sam Sinclair was disappointed the patience and composure her side had shown over the first 45 minutes of the match escaped them in the frantic finish.
"It's devastating when it comes down to that," said the youngster, who had a strong outing against her netballing idol Laura Langman.
"We had our heads up the whole game, we were desperate on defence and keeping the pressure on the Mystics. But we just let it get away in the final few minutes."
In today's earlier match the Queensland Firebirds edged the Adelaide Thunderbirds 48-46 in Brisbane.