Magic come up short against Pulse
In a game where fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout, Kia Magic were pipped 53-52 by a fast-finishing Central Pulse in Wellington on Sunday.
Kia Magic had their opportunities to stake a claim but at times lacked fluency on attack and composure in the heat of battle, the Pulse showing they have learnt from a couple of similar outings this season when on the losing end.
The result consigned Kia Magic to their second loss of the season during which they have also posted three wins. It doesn’t get any easier with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty team heading to Adelaide next Monday and an outing against the in-form Thunderbirds.
For the Pulse it ended a 10-game losing streak against Kia Magic as they chalked up their first-ever win over the defending champions while also getting their campaign for a play-off spot back on track.
No more than four goals separated the teams throughout in a tight and absorbing contest, Pulse holding the slight edge with their accuracy and patience to deliver safe ball. They were well served by the classy shooting combination of Caitlin Thwaites and Donna Wilkins who hardly put a foot wrong all night.
With Joline Henry ruled out through injury, Victoria Smith got the nod at wing defence for Pulse while goal attack Ellen Halpenny got her first run-on start for Kia Magic as both teams opted for tried and true line-ups.
There was nothing to separate the teams in a tight and evenly contested opening stanza, good service from respective wing attacks Liana Leota for Pulse and Kia Magic’s Khao Watts giving their respective shooters plenty of well-created opportunities.
The instinctive rapport between Thwaites and Wilkins was a highlight early on while Kia Magic were forced to exhibit patience on attack when trying to breech the tight defensive screen employed by the home team.
Turnovers were few and far between, Kia Magic holding a slight edge to nose into the first break with a narrow 13-12 lead.
There was little change on the resumption, Pulse impressing with their patience and ball security while waiting for the openings. Conversely, Kia Magic were not so fluent, struggling with their transition in their attacking zone on the back of strong defensive efforts from Smith and Millie Lees.
Safe and error-free netball helped the home team hit the front momentarily before Kia Magic flexed their considerable defensive muscle with Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin putting the squeeze on Pulse’s shooters. The pressure caused a slight shift in momentum towards Kia Magic, Halpenny showing a cool head to nail some big points while Irene van Dyk was being double-marked.
Both Thwaites and van Dyk recorded a perfect 15 shots from 15 attempts in a first half of high accuracy in which all shooters excelled, Kia Magic reclaiming the lead for a slim 28-27 advantage at the main break.
Daya Wiffen took over at wing defence for the second half for Pulse but it was Kia Magic who made the first decisive move during a momentum swinging third stanza. Showing their ability to score quickly, the visitors hit the ground running, surging out to a four-goal advantage after five minutes. Captain Laura Langman led the charge with her work on transition while Kopua and de Bruin got their hand on more turnover ball.
Just as quickly fortunes changed, Pulse’s defensive duo of Katrina Grant and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit causing some wobbles in Kia Magic’s attacking line. With the impetus with them, Pulse reeled off five straight goals in providing another dramatic twist, the home team taking a 41-40 lead into the last break.
The excitement levels remained high during a thrilling run to the finish line during which the lead changed hands several times. Pulse got the decisive jump three minutes from the end, a three-goal buffer helping them hold on for a timely win.
