Kia Magic keen to turn the tables in Pulse rematch
Press Release May 1, 2014
Kia Magic will seek to keep their destiny in their own hands in the eagerly-awaited ANZ Championship netball rematch with Central Pulse in Wellington on Monday.
With five rounds to go and a tightly-packed field, any slip-ups now could prove costly in the run to decide the play-off contenders which is still too close to pick.
It took extra time before Pulse clinched the honours by three goals in the first meeting between the pair four weeks ago, consigning Magic to their only loss of the season in the process.
Sitting just outside the top four, in fifth, with a four-win four-loss record, the ramifications are more significant for the Pulse where another loss could prove dire. However, Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald is equally adamant a win for her side is just as important.
``We seem to be coming up every week against teams that are desperate to improve their spot on the ladder,’’ she said.
``But you can’t afford really to be table watching. We’re sitting virtually at the top of the table now, we’d only have to lose two games and we’re right back down there in the mix with everybody else.
``You’ve just got to take every game as it comes, try and win your own games and try not be too distracted by what’s happening with everybody else.’’
The teams come into the match off contrasting fortunes in the previous round, Magic sneaking a hard-fought one-goal win over a tenacious Adelaide Thunderbirds while Pulse slumped to a 12-goal loss to the well-drilled Melbourne Vixens.
Magic, however, were given a good shake-up, the Thunderbirds defensive line causing plenty of problems and some concerns for Magic’s flow on attack.
``When I watched that match again, it wasn’t as bad as I thought,’’ Fitzgerald said.
``But we certainly made a lot of errors, more errors than we’re accustomed to making and at crucial times.
``There are a few adjustments to be made particularly at our attacking end of the court but they are not major ones.’’
On the positive side, Fitzgerald was rich in her praise of defenders Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin. The experienced Silver Ferns pair repeatedly kept Magic in the hunt with a constant supply of turnover ball, Fitzgerald citing it as one of the ``best games they’ve had for us all year.
``You do gain a certain amount of confidence out of winning those really tough games, particularly when you’ve got to come from behind and get it,’’ she said.
Disappointed to lose the first encounter when they had their opportunities to seal a win in regulation time, Magic are keen to turn the tables. They will, however, have to negotiate a talent-laden Pulse with their backs-to-the-wall, potentially making them all the more dangerous.
To pull that off, it’s all about attack.
``We have to sort our attack, our through-court attack is the main concern for us and we have to get that right,’’ Fitzgerald said.
Jane Hunt
Kia Magic media liaison
Ph: 021-107-0287
