Netball: Magic gets better of Mystics

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic staged a gritty fightback to overcome the Northern Mystics, 54-51, in Auckland last night.

The Mystics took a seven-goal lead in the first quarter - and stayed ahead at each of the quarter breaks - but their momentum seemed to be attached to a bungy cord.

The Magic appeared to make a solid start, with young midcourters Sam Sinclair and MVP Jamie-Lee Price devoted to snaffling every ball, but a three-goal lead was quickly erased, and then reversed, as the Mystics scored a breath-taking eight goals in a row.

After the break, Anna Harrison continued to read the Magic attacking lines like a well-thumbed book, and Maria Tutaia took on the bulk of the shooting.

But the Magic managed to string together some better periods of play, and with Malia Paseka holding strong under the hoop, it won the second quarter by two, closing the gap to 30-25 at halftime.

Yet it was Paseka who was switched at the start of the third spell, making way for Paula Griffin, coach Julie Fitzgerald looking for more height and stability in the shooting circle. It paid off immediately, with the Magic adding five quick goals to tie the scores at 31-31.

The Mystics turned on the power again under the direction of Tutaia to pour on seven consecutive goals and regain the lead, 42-38, going into the final 15 minutes.

The Magic drew level again and then put up a massive defensive wall, leaving the Mystics no avenues to go forward, and scored the final three goals to sew it up.

 

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