Netball: Tactix loss puts Magic advantage in jeopardy

Laura Langman says the Thunderbirds will be tough opponents. Photo / Sarah Ivey

When the Tactix suffered a humiliating 28-goal defeat to the Melbourne Vixens on Monday night, it wasn't just the Cantabrians who were disappointed.

With the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Vixens fighting it out for the minor premiership, there was much head-shaking going on in the Magic camp over the result.

The two sides are tied on equal points at the top of the table, but the Magic are hoping they can maintain their superior goal percentage over the weekend to ensure they finish top of the table.

However the Vixens' big win on Monday night saw the Waikato side's healthy lead in goal percentage almost cut in half. There is now a good chance the Magic's lead will evaporate after the weekend with the Vixens facing the bottom-of-the-table Central Pulse tomorrow.

While the Pulse picked up their first win last weekend over the NSW Swifts, they have little chance against the powerful Vixens lineup in Melbourne.

Regardless of the outcome this weekend, the Magic will meet the Melbourne Vixens in the first play-off match. The Magic are determined to ensure that meeting will be in Hamilton.

Asked if the Tactix had made it tougher for her side to achieve this, easygoing Magic coach Noeline Taurua joked: "Yeah ... the buggers," before adding, "I was a bit surprised. I didn't expect that sort of performance from [the Tactix]. But we can't expect anyone else to go out and do us any favours, we have to do the business ourselves."

And the Magic can expect a hard day at the office on Sunday when they meet the third-placed Thunderbirds in Adelaide.

For all the criticism the Magic cop across the Tasman over the composition of their lineup, the Thunderbirds could rival the Waikato side as one of the most stacked teams in the league.

The Adelaide side boasts four members of last year's Australian test side, highly regarded England international Geva Mentor and two former Australian internationals.

The talented and well-drilled side will present a huge challenge for the Magic this weekend. The Thunderbirds have never beaten the Magic before, but then they have never had the benefit of playing the Waikato side at home either.

But after finally breaking the hoodoo that hung over New Zealand teams trying to win on Australian courts against the West Coast Fever last weekend, the Magic are fired up to repeat the feat in successive matches.

Magic midcourter Laura Langman was thrilled with her side's effort in Perth in round 13, but said it left them with plenty to build on.

"That was a huge confidence booster for us, but we definitely identified some areas that we want to sharpen up on going in to the Thunderbirds, because they are a very well-oiled unit and after their loss to the Steel [on Monday night] they'll want to make amends."

Coping with the aggressive one-on-one style of marking of the Australian sides has so often been the stumbling block for Kiwi sides playing across the Tasman. The Magic may have done well to absorb the defensive pressure applied by the spirited Fever side last weekend, but Langman is expecting the physical Thunderbirds to up the ante again.

"We're definitely preparing ourselves for what they may throw at us, and the physicality is probably one of those factors."

With the Vixens facing off against the Pulse on Saturday, the Magic will know exactly what they have to do to secure the top spot on the ladder by the time they take the court against the Thunderbirds on Sunday. But Langman said her side could not afford to focus too heavily on the number-crunching.

"This is a huge game for us, so first and foremost we need to play well and secure the two points."

The Southern Steel will also be battling the calculator as much as their opponent this weekend as they look to secure their place in the play-offs. The Steel are tied on equal points with the Queensland Firebirds and are chasing a big win against the NSW Swifts tomorrow to boost their chances of making the top four.