Magic 67
Pulse 35
If a week is a long time in sport, then the final three rounds of the ANZ Championship trantasman season are going to feel like an eternity for the Central Pulse.
The hapless Pulse last night suffered the biggest loss of their miserable season, thoroughly outclassed by the table topping Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic.
The 32-goal margin of victory was a record win for the impressive Magic, giving their goal percentage a timely boost with the play-offs just around the corner.
Magic co-captain Joline Henry said that with goal percentages (goals for divided by goals against) set to play a key role in determining positioning within the top four, it was always in the back of her side's minds that they had to win and win well.
"I think while we wanted to live in today, we're also very wary of tomorrow, knowing further down the track it will be a big factor," said Henry.
The Magic are at present top of the table on goal difference.
With the top teams all looking to boost their goal percentage over the final rounds, the Pulse are in for a lot more punishment over the last three weeks of the competition.
The Wellington side, who after nearly two seasons of the transtasman league are still searching for their first victory in the competition, have been dealt some heavy losses this year. But bear in mind they have yet to even cross the Tasman.
Given no New Zealand side has even looked like winning in Australia so far this season, the Pulse look to be in for a particularly tough time.
Next week, they head to Adelaide to take on the third-placed Thunderbirds, fresh off a 58-39 thrashing of the West Coast Fever yesterday.
They then head home to meet the reigning champion NSW Swifts, desperate to restore some pride to their season after a shock run of results.
Their final round 14 clash will see the Pulse go head-to-head with the star-studded Melbourne Vixens, who are likely to be chasing the top spot on the ladder.
They are, it seems, on a hiding to nothing.
But it is hard to be too critical of the young Pulse side, given some of the mismatches they have been up against.
Last night being a case in point. The Magic, boasting five frontline Silver Ferns in their starting line-up, were simply too strong, too fast, too accurate.
Pulse goalkeep Bessie Manu gave away 14cm in height to Magic sharpshooter Irene van Dyk, but the youngster fought gallantly to try to contain the world's most-capped netballer.
She was not alone. Throughout the court the Pulse battled hard to compete with their more experienced rivals but could not find a way to slow the powerful Magic juggernaut's march to victory.
Pulse captain Cushla Lichtwark, another tireless performer last night, said no matter what the scoreboard reads, her side give it their all until the final whistle.
"That's what we attempt to do every week, that's what we've got to do to compete in this league."
In the coming weeks that spirit will be well and truly tested.
While the Pulse will be counting down the days to the end of the season, the Canterbury Tactix are enjoying a new lease on life.
The Tactix finally gave a glimpse of their true potential on Saturday, upsetting the Queensland Firebirds in Christchurch. After suffering several heartbreaking losses this season, the 53-46 win over the Firebirds, who are considered a strong chance to make the semifinals, finally gave the Tactix something to smile about.
The Canterbury side did an impressive job of stemming the flow of ball into the Firebirds' shooting circle, minimising the scoring threat of 1.96m shooter Romelda Aiken.
After a patchy start the Adelaide Thunderbirds' season continued to gather pace over the weekend with another big win over the West Coast Fever.
It was the Thunderbirds' third big win in a row. They easily dispatched the Fever in their round nine match-up and then backed that up with a 24-goal demolition of the Northern Mystics last weekend.
