Mystics pounce on Magic
Visitors miss the guidance of unwell leader Ekenasio
After a commanding firsthalf performance, the Northern Mystics thrilled their home crowd with a 54-44 win over the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic to round out round 6 of netball’s ANZ Premiership.
Wearing dresses from the 2008 team in honour of Heritage Round, the Mystics’ 10-goal lead in the first quarter — followed by a streak of nine consecutive goals in the second — set up the defending champions for victory.
With both sides coming off victories, it promised to be a classic middle-of-the-table tussle for the third rung on the Premiership ladder.
But without their unwell leader, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, the Magic turned to young shooters Saviour Tui, Ivana Rowland and Kate Taylor to carry the load — it looked to be a big ask.
Tui, however, stepped up, particularly when at goal shoot in the second half, finishing the game with 31 from 36. And with experienced defenders Erena Mikaere and Georgia Takarangi also coming into their own, stemming the Mystics’ earlier smooth flow, the Magic won the last two quarters by eight goals.
At the opposite end — in the continued injury absence of Grace Nweke — goal attack Filda Vui was the standout shooter for the Mystics, potting 31 from 37, being well supported by Hannah Glen.
The Mystics established the upper hand early with strong defence from Carys Stythe and Phoenix Karaka, which was converted into goals by Vui and Glen. A run of four gave the Mystics a 9-4 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Tui sunk some sweet long-range shots to keep the Magic scoreboard ticking over, but series of handling errors on attack proved costly.
Peta Toeava’s vision into the Mystics’ shooting circle was on-song, and she even pulled off an athletic intercept on defence. Another streak of five goals put the home side in a handsome position, 18-8 up at the first break. The experienced head of Ariana Cable-dixon was introduced to centre for Magic as Tui, the Magic’s best shooter, headed to the bench for Rowland.
Vui, meanwhile, was doing the lion’s share of the shooting for the Mystics at goal attack and a stunning string of nine further wore down the Magic.
With the divide at 20 goals, the Mystics took the opportunity to bring Katie Te Ao on at wing defence, and Catherine Hall at goal keep.
Mikaere, taking on the captaincy for the game, refused to be subdued, and pulled off a couple of good tips for the visitors before halftime, when Magic went to the changing rooms down 34-16. For the second straight quarter, the Mystics had held the Magic to only eight goals.
The Magic had a much stronger third spell — Mikaere and Takarangi were more dynamic, getting hand-toball and disrupting the Mystics shooters, and Claire O’brien showing smart vision in to Tui and Rowland.
After a Magic run of five, Dani Binks stepped into the Mystics shooting line-up for Vui and stopped the Magic’s dash. Still the Magic won the quarter by five, and were trailing 49-29 going into the final stanza.
The Magic continued to interrupt the easy flow the Mystics enjoyed in the first half, but the home side still had enough of a buffer to score a telling win.