Magic 61 Tactix 52
Suddenly all is beginning to feel right again in the Magic's world.
Well, almost - if you discount their eighth position on the transtasman league table.
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty side finally broke their unprecedented drought in the ANZ Championship, notching their first win of the season against the Canterbury Tactix in Rotorua last night to end a four-game losing run.
For a while in the third period and early in the fourth, it looked as though they were going to blow another opportunity, as the Tactix over-turned a 24-32 halftime deficit to close within two goals of the star-studded Magic side.
But after a series of near-misses in Australia over the past two weeks, the motivation was high in the Magic camp - they were not going to let another two points slip away. Inspired by some sterling work at the back by Leana de Bruin, the Magic went on a scoring spree over the last 10 minutes for a nine-goal win.
While the Magic camp will be feeling much happier, the Tactix further highlighted some attacking concerns for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty side, who will especially want to take a close look at the third quarter, where they were outscored 17-12.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua said while she was relieved to get some points on the board, it was not the clinical attacking performance she had wanted.
"I don't think we attacked the ball enough and became very hesitant so we had a very high turnover rate," said Taurua.
Despite their struggles, the Magic were still able to score 61 goals with Irene van Dyk coming into her own late in the game after her teammates struggled to find her under the post early on.
The veteran sharpshooter had another 100 per cent return, slotting 33 from 33.
Ordinarily a 0-4 start to the transtasman league would likely be terminal.
After an unpredictable start to the competition, the table looks very different to other seasons.
The teams from fourth through seventh have just two wins, although two of them - the Steel and Swifts - have a game in hand.
With games against the Fever, Pulse and Tactix coming next, the Magic have an opportunity to get back in the title race.
The true toll of the Magic's poor start will not be evident until the end of the season.
They started the match untidily, guilty of trying to play at full pace from the outset. As a result their attack was wobbly.
The visitors took advantage, leading 12-9 after 10 minutes, before the Magic managed to get their noses back in front 16-15 at the first break.
The Tactix went off the boil in the second spell as they struggled to find a way through the de Bruin and Casey Williams. With the quick scoring abilities of the Magic, the scoreline soon blew out to eight goals at halftime.
- APN News & Media