Netball: No way past the Mystics' wall

Anna Scarlett, of the Mystics, makes shooting difficult for the Magic's Juliana Naoupu in last night's match. Photo / Getty Images

Mystics 43 Magic 42

There has been a changing of the guard at the top of New Zealand netball. The Mystics last night clawed their way past the Magic to go through to the ANZ Championship grand final.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty side have been the best performing Kiwi team in the transtasman league over the competition's first four seasons, making the finals every year, including two grand finals.

But the Mystics, playing in their first finals campaign, were desperate to make up for lost time after three seasons of heartbreak, pulling off a thrilling one-goal win at Mystery Creek.

The Auckland side showed the lessons from their previous disappointments, demonstrating great maturity as a group to recover from a slow and nervous start and seize control of the match.

Mystics captain Temepara George, who has endured three frustrating seasons at the franchise, said her side were determined not to slip into old habits after coming so far.

"It's such an awesome feeling," said George. "There's a lot of belief within our group and we just need to take that into next week."

The Mystics now have to try to orchestrate another changing of the guard, by bringing the ANZ Championship trophy to New Zealand after three years of Australian dominance.

Lying in wait for the Mystics in next week's grand final are the Queensland Firebirds, who have been unstoppable all season.

But the Mystics are in the midst of a history-making run, producing a number of firsts this season. Last night they added another one - becoming the first side to qualify for the grand final from fourth position.

The intensity of last night's nail-biting clash would have prepared the Mystics for a good tilt at the Firebirds.

With both the Mystics and the Magic littered with Silver Ferns, each team was well-versed with their opponents play, setting the platform for an intense no-holds-barred battle.

While the game disintegrated slightly in the final five minutes of the match, as the knowledge of how much was at stake made both sides hesitant on attack, it was arguably the best all-New Zealand clash the competition has seen, and one worthy of finals netball.

Mystics star Maria Tutaia was again outstanding, stepping up to shoulder the bulk of the shooting duties with goal shoot Cathrine Latu well-contained by Magic defender Casey Williams.

Latu did not look comfortable all night, as the Silver Ferns captain dominated her from the outset, restricting the normally prolific shooter to just 15 goals.

Tutaia stepped into the breach, converting 28 of her 30 shots at goal - most from long range - to lead all scorers for the night.

Young defender Kayla Cullen also produced another heroic performance, constantly spoiling the Magic's possession, coming up with six deflections and three intercepts.

After last week's disappointing showing against the Firebirds, the Magic fired out of the blocks last night, taking a 13-9 lead at the first break.

But the Mystics found their rhythm in the second period, making the most of the possession their defensive end were winning to take a 25-20 lead at halftime - a nine-goal turnaround.

But the Magic rallied for one last surge, with Casey Williams and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, who was introduced off the bench in the final spell, virtually shutting down the shooters.

"The momentum was starting to happen and then it was gone. We probably had two balls we had a chance to take the lead, but it just wasn't meant to be," said Williams.