Netball: Mystics fade against Thunderbirds

Catherine Latu. Photo / Getty Images

Another ground-breaking trans-Tasman netball championship victory remains elusive for the Northern Mystics after the Adelaide Thunderbirds revived their flimsy title defence with a pulsating 57-55 victory at ETSA Park last night.

Hoping to follow up their first ever win against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the previous round with a maiden triumph in Australia the heavily favoured Mystics instead surrendered an eight-goal lead before inspirational Thunderbirds vice-captain Sharni Layton created havoc during an enthralling final quarter.

The abrasive Layton displayed Casey Williams-like qualities as the goal keep created some amazing interventions - defensive plays that coincided with Silver Ferns shooting ace Maria Tutaia losing her touch.

And at the other end of the court Carla Borrego and Erin Bell held their nerve under pressure as the Thunderbirds completed a remarkable transformation to improve to sixth.

Leading 20-12 at quarter time, the Mystics looked on course to join the Magic as the only New Zealand franchises to celebrate on an Australian court since the championship began in 2008.

But a crippling turnover rate, particularly in the second and third quarters, handed the initiative to a desperate Thunderbirds side.

Crucially the Mystics coughed up possession 27 times, 10 more than their opponents to negate the solid shooting efforts of Tutaia (26/31) and goal shoot Catherine Latu (25/27).

Goal defence Kara Richards had difficulty combating the mobile Tutaia - who was typically effective from long range while Latu patrolled the post - but in keeping with the Thunderbirds all round improvement she eventually proved a useful ally to the impressive Layton.

Jamaican international Borrego also stepped up at the opportune moment, erasing the disappointment of three uncharacteristic misses in the lead-up to halftime with a game-high 36 goals from 41 attempts.

Borrego had been hemmed in by Rachel Rasmussen until the Thunderbirds revised their tactics and opted to feed the lanky goal shoot with lobbed passes from long range.

Despite Borrego's minor wobbles the Thunderbirds narrowed the margin to five at the main break and maintained their momentum after Mystics stand-in head coach Jenny-May Coffin changed her defensive alignment for the third quarter.

Guiding the squad in the absence of new mother Debbie Fuller, Coffin switched Anna Scarlett to goal keep for Rachel Rasmussen, Kayla Cullen took over at GD and Portia Woodman - a replacement for injured Silver Fern Joline Henry - inherited the WD bib.

Those alterations appeared questionable as the Thunderbirds finally gained parity at 39-39 midway through the term - a consequence of the Mystics poor ball security.

Coffin reverted to original defensive line-up as the Mystics sought to protect a three-goal lead entering the run home but to no avail as Layton and Borrego worked their magic.

Tutaia lamented the side's loss of composure late in the final quarter and admitted the winless record in Australia was taking its toll.

"It's a hoodoo that's on us, that's for sure," she said.

The Aucklanders, who at least remain in fourth place, now face a tough assignment against the unbeaten Queensland Firebirds on Saturday; the invigorated Thunderbirds head to Invercargill for next Monday's seventh round clash with the Southern Steel.

- NZPA