Magic score first win of netball premiership
- Dave Worsley
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The Magic have scored their first win of the season in style with a comprehensive 72-51 win over Stars to complete Round 4 in Hamilton.
Finding speed and accuracy going forward, the Magic had an inspiring figure at goal shoot in the form of Saviour Tui who had a memorable 60 minutes while showcasing her considerable skillset and nailing 54 from 57 shots on goal.
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The Magoic led by seven going into the final stanza, the home side couldn’t have asked for a better finish when delivering a forceful 22-8 statement, scoring the last 11 goals in the process with the final two being super shots.
Sitting out last week after suffering a head knock, Ali Wilshier returned to centre in the Magic starting line-up while the Stars presented with the same seven as their last outing.
Magic made an impressive start on attack with captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Claire O’Brien delivering deep feeds into the athletic Tui under the hoop. The shooter mixed her game between holding, quick movement and aerial to great effect.
The Stars adopted a more patient approach as the teams’ level-pegged before the Magic broke the arm-wrestle. Feeding off turnover opportunities, the Magic made no mistake with a strong finish to end the first quarter with a 17-14 lead.
Former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson was bought on at wing defence. That change helped the visitors add speed and improved through-court flow as they closed to within one.
However, the Magic continued to impress with their ability to get quick ball to Tui who dominated at the shooting end through her variety of play, movement and accuracy.
Defensively, the Magic were also able to disrupt the Stars progress as Erena Mikaere and Georgia Tong stalled the shooting connections while wing defence Georgia Edgecombe, who finished with two intercepts and seven deflections, was all hustle and bustle.
Magic were quick to punish errors and the disconnect that blighting the Stars as the home side took a handy 33-25 lead into the main break.
Two quick goals to start the third quarter saw the Stars improve in their best quarter of the match. Captain Maia Wilson and the Charlie Bell got in the groove with their shooter-to-shooter exchanges on the back of strong drives and feeds from Mila Reuelu-Buchanan.
Hard-working defender Remi Kamo, with two intercepts and seven deflections, also helped ensure the Magic were kept in check and reduced an eight-goal deficit to just two, prompting a technical time out for the home side.
It induced the appropriate response with the mobile shooting circle of Tui and Ekenasio hitting back in spectacular fashion as they knocked the spirit out of the Stars challenge.
Wilson kept the Stars well in contention with a super shot but Tui, who could do little wrong, responded in similar fashion. Growing in confidence the court opened up in dazzling style for the Magic who continued to excel on attack.
With the scoreboard ticking over, the Magic were left well-placed when leading 50-43 at the last break.