| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | ||
 | Southern Steel | 7 | 20 | 28 | 33 | 33 |
 | Waikato/BOP Magic | 12 | 16 | 28 | 38 | 38 |
Last gasp win for Magic
It was far from vintage netball as First Windows Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic pulled off a battling but all-important 38-33 win over the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Invercargill tonight.
Magic spoiled Steel's unbeaten run at home this year and in the process cementing their place in the top four with two rounds of the regular season remaining.
In one of the lowest scoring matches ever in the competition, crucial late steals by Laura Langman and Peta Scholz and the finishing of Irene van Dyk under the hoop tipped the result Magic's way.
It was not a pretty game, the low score highlighting the number of turnovers in a mistake-riddled match as the home team came within a whisker of producing a huge upset.
Magic got the early upper hand after steady and deliberate starts by both teams. The visitors were able to break down the usually reliable midcourt zone employed by the southerners, breaking it almost at will as easy progress was made to shooters van Dyk and Julianna Naoupu.
Coming back from illness, Frances Solia got the nod at wing attack for Magic, the nippy midcourter providing plenty of movement and vision on attack where she ruled the top of the circle with Langman. At the other end of the court, stifling one-on-one defence by Scholz and Langman killed off many of Steel’s attacking raids.
Confident with their through court play and accuracy under the hoop, Magic skipped out to a seven-goal lead, prompting a desperate move by Steel as Paula Griffin and Daneka Wipiiti switched shooting positions. However, it was all Magic early on, the visitors heading into the first break with a 12-7 lead.
Steel rocketed out of the blocks on the resumption, strong words from coach Robyn Broughton still reverberating as they set about turning the game on its head. In a complete reversal of fortunes, Steel lifted into another gear, going on to outplay Magic across all areas.
More movement from Natasha Chokljat and Liana Leota in the midcourt produced a chain reaction, almost instantly freeing up the circle as Griffin and Wipiiti held sway to pot shots from far and wide.
At the other end, Wendy Frew, Te Huinga Selby-Rickit and Leana de Bruin tightened up defensively to close down the spaces and shut out Magic's attacking options.
Magic were reduced to just four goals as their possession dried up, Steel marching out to a 20-16 halftime lead in a stunning turnaround.
Changes were rung by Magic for the second half, Jamilah Gupwell replacing Naoupu and Jess Tuki taking over from Solia as the intensity and physicality reached new levels. Emotions ran high with every ball contested in a torrid exchange.
Magic had the better of proceedings, picking off vital intercept ball on defence while also finding more impetus on attack. Heavily marked by the well-performed Selby-Rickit and de Bruin, the irrepressible van Dyk rose to the occasion to extract herself from impossible situations to put the ball through the hoop.
Stretching out to a four-goal buffer, Magic looked poised to take off but Steel had other ideas. Finishing with a strong burst, on the back of Griffin’s shooting accuracy, the home team ensured a thrilling run home as they teams went to the last break with the scores all tied up at 28-all.
It didn't disappoint, an absorbing final quarter producing long passages of play without a goal being scored as play swung wildly back and forth, frequently breaking down under the intense pressure before Magic’s experienced heads prevailed.
| | | |
| Goals / Attempts | 33 / 40 (82.5 %) | 38 / 49 (77.6 %) |
| Offensive Rebounds | 3 | 3 |
| Intercepts | 9 | 8 |
| Deflections | 9 | 12 |
| Contact Penalties | 41 | 57 |
| Obstruction Penalties | 23 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 14 |
| Bad Hands | 7 | 2 |
| Bad Passes | 6 | 3 |
