Netball: Taurua conjures up semis magic

Magic shooter Irene van Dyk was on top of her game last night. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Magic 61 Sting 51

Magic coach Noeline Taurua spent a considerable amount of time on the phone this week ringing around her old teammates, mentors and friends asking for advice how to restore confidence into her side.

Whatever guidance she was given it did the trick as the Waikato Bay of Plenty side stormed into the final of the National Bank Cup with a resounding win over the Sting in Invercargill last night.

The Magic advance straight to the June 30 final which will be at Hamilton's Mystery Creek. The Sting will meet the winner of tomorrow's match between the Force and the Flames to decide the other finalist.

The Magic went into the match on the back of two upset loses which had many wondering whether they could recapture the form that won them last year's title.

From the first whistle it was apparent they had. Their precision passing returned as had their speed through court and most importantly so had the flow into shooter Irene van Dyk.

Taurua started with a slightly different combination with Kiri Adams and Amigene Metcalfe combining at wing attack and centre.

The pair gelled well and unlike last week the ball was feed into shooters van Dyk and Tanya Lund with a lot more more precision and variation.

At the other end of the court, Magic defenders Casey Williams and Joline Henry made life difficult for Sting shooters Tania Dalton and Belinda Colling early on.

With their opponents 19-12 ahead at the first quarter, Sting coach Robyn Broughton moved Dalton to goal attack and Natalie Avellino came on at goal shoot. But the changes made little difference as Williams and Henry continued to dominate.

While Magic's previous opponents the Diamonds and the Force managed to stem the flow into van Dyk, the Sting didn't.

The Magic mid court players were often left unmarked leaving them an open view into their shooters.

Lund put in one of her best performances at goal attack. The Sting tried to play two defenders on van Dyk but Lund held her own which helped the Magic to a 10 goal lead midway through the second quarter.

The Sting struggled with the Magic's through court defence and were guilty of far too many unforced errors which the Magic converted.

Up 33-23 at halftime, the Magic extended their lead in the third quarter. The Sting made further changes to their shooting lineup midway through the quarter with Colling coming on to goal shoot and Avellino at goal attack.

In what was an attempt to stem the Magic middies, who had far too much of a free reign throughout the match, Sting captain Adine Wilson moved into centre replacing Lesley Rumball.

Ahead 51-36 at three quarter time the Magic's lead was never threatened in the last quarter although the Sting did peg a few back in the early stages.

While the score was not as hefty as the Magic's 25 goal win over the Sting in last year's final, the match was similar as the Magic had complete control which sends a warning to whoever they meet in the final.