Netball: Powerful Mystics edge out the Magic

The Northern Mystics have confirmed their place as New Zealand's premier transtasman league team, edging out the embattled Magic 47-41 in Hamilton last night.

The loss sees the Waikato/Bay of Plenty side slump to an 0-2 record for the season, raising questions over the depth in their team.

It was hoped a new, uncompromising approach to the standards they set at training would translate into that "extra 5 per cent" captain Laura Langman reckons her side need to end their title drought.

But the Magic looked flat and lethargic in their opening performance as they were caught offguard by a fired up Steel lineup.

They managed to lift their intensity several notches last night in their first appearance at their new Hamilton venue of Claudelands Arena, but they just didn't have the attacking depth to match the powerful Northern Mystics.

With each side boasting one of the league's most dominant shooters in the Magic's Irene van Dyk and Cathrine Latu of the Mystics, both teams focused on shutting down those scoring threats.

The Magic's star defensive pairing of Casey Williams and Leana de Bruin were charged with containing Latu, while the Mystics' Kayla Cullen and Anna Scarlett kept an eye on van Dyk.

Latu was kept particularly quiet, putting up just eight shots in each half. But her shooting partner Maria Tutaia did an impressive job of taking the heat off Latu, contributing 31 of 47 goals.

Magic goal attack Julianna Naoupu also had an extremely productive game putting up 29 shots, of which she converted 23.

Van Dyk added just 17 goals in her three quarters, before being replaced for the final spell by rookie shooter Arahi Wall.

A rugged opening quarter, in which both sides tested the umpires with what they could get away with, set the tone for a scrappy match.

A Latu goal right on the whistle gave the Mystics a 12-11 lead at the first break.

Trailing 25-21 at the long break, the Magic started the third quarter with a fresh resolve, quickly eating their way into the Mystics' lead to draw level at 26-all. That prompted the re-introduction of English import Jade Clarke to the midcourt.

Clarke became the third player at wing defence after Charlotte Kight and Portia Woodman, to try to contain Langman, who was moved up the court to wing attack for three-quarters of the match, taking on feeding duties.

With the Mystics tightening up their midcourt defence, they pulled away again towards the end of the third spell to take a handy 37-32 lead heading into the final period.

Needing to inject something new in to her attack end, Magic coach Noeline Taurua boldly benched van Dyk for the final spell.

While Wall had a nervous introduction to ANZ Championship netball, it took a while for the Mystics defenders to adjust to a new shooting style and, as a result, the Magic produced a mini-rally.

But once the Mystics defence got their head around the changes they were able to close out the win.

- NZ Herald