KEY POINTS:
The performance was better but the outcome the same for Central Pulse who crashed to a 37-54 loss to Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in their transtasman netball match near Hamilton today.
The gulf in class between New Zealand's best and worst teams in the opening rounds of the
ANZ Championship was only really obvious in the first quarter at Mystery Creek.
The hosts raced to a dominant 18-4 lead, suggesting the winless Pulse were in for a thrashing worse than their near-30 point losses in Australia over the past two weeks.
However, sparked by changes throughout the court by Pulse coach Kate Carpenter, the visitors improved markedly from the second quarter.
They won the second stanza 10-9 to trail 14-27 at halftime.
The second half was also an even tussle, won 27-23 by Magic, with the final quarter drawn 11-11 as Magic coach Noeline Taurua experimented with her lineup.
Before that her leading seven, most of them Silver Ferns, had battled to build on their massive early advantage.
That will annoy Taurua because her team were in fifth place coming into this weekend, behind the four leading Australian teams on goal differential.
As usual goal shoot Irene van Dyk was a potent force, missing her first shot of the game in the final quarter.
She was harried throughout by Pulse's inspirational English international Sonia Mkoloma, who had a quickness that belied her height and reach.
Her shift from goal keep to goal defence in the second quarter, with the introduction of Kahurangi Waitiiti at the back, sparked Pulse's recovery.
Lauren Burgess was also effective when shifted from wing defence to wing attack while Susan Tagicakibau relished goal shoot more than goal attack.
She came to terms with Casey Williams as the match wore on although the Magic goal keep was still a classy performer throughout, snaffling numerous intercepts.
Centre Laura Langman was the pick of a Magic midcourt that shaded their Pulse counterparts.
Wing attack and captain Amigene Metcalfe gave her side a pass mark for a performance that saw Magic move to the top of the table although three fifth-round fixtures remained to be played.
"We probably didn't put it all together for the 60 minutes but we were happy with the start," Metcalfe told Sky Sport.
"They (Pulse) are not a side you can take easily, they've got some good quality players so we weren't taking them lightly at all."
Pulse skipper Frances Solia admitted another poor start knocked the stuffing out of her team but was pleased with their recovery.
"Making those changes after the first quarter kind of helped us in the rest of the game," she said.
"Our young team will only get better by getting qualty time against a team like the Magic."
She reserved praise for Mkoloma and wing defence Cushla Lichtwark, who proved a dynamic pair.
Magic are to face Northern Mystics in Auckland next weekend while Pulse have a bye.
- NZPA