Magic make it four from four against Vixens
Kia Magic consolidated their position at the top of the table with an impressive 49-44 win over Melbourne Vixens in Melbourne on Sunday.
Leading at all the breaks, Magic maintained their unbeaten four-game run to start the season while consigning Vixens to their second successive home court loss.
Vixens kept coming back strongly at the visitors but the new-look Magic, led by the Silver Ferns defensive duo of Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin, held their composure and poise to hold on for a hard-fought win on their first trip to Australia this season.
Shooter Karyn Bailey again got the nod over veteran Catherine Cox in the Vixens’ circle while Magic handed 18-year-old wing defence Jamie-Lee Price her first start at this level.
With the heavyweight defensive pairings at either end of the court – Geva Mentor and Bianca Chatfield for Vixens and de Bruin and Kopua for Magic – both teams made measured and deliberate starts. With the emphasis by each team on ball retention, an arm wrestle developed from the outset with little to nothing separating two evenly-matched teams.
Magic twice crept out to three-goal leads in the opening stanza, goal attack Ellen Halpenny carrying a big load outside the circle while also showing pinpoint accuracy on the shot. Fortunes flowed back and forth, Vixens repairing the difference as the teams level-pegged to the first break with Magic just nosing in front 14-13.
Magic had another strong start on the resumption, wing attack Grace Rasmussen dominating the centre pass and second phase play to the top of the circle.
Both teams continued to be accurate through court as a similar pattern emerged, midcourter Madison Robinson and goal attack Tegan Caldwell showing some deft touches to keep Vixens on the front foot in the attacking third.
The tight marking ensured missed shots and turnovers at both ends but it was Magic who retained the slight edge, the menacing pairing of Kopua and de Bruin picking up late ball to give the visitors a 25-22 lead in an absorbing contest.
Vixens introduced Amy Steel for Kate Moloney at wing defence in a bid to cut down Rasmussen’s influence and the mounting penalty count for the second half.
The changes paid off initially with Vixens scoring four goals on the trot to narrow the gap to two. Magic, however, responded with four of their in maintaining their intensity and calmness under pressure.
With Courtney Tairi and Price doing a good defensive job on the edge of the Vixens circle, the home team struggled for consistent driving play against Magic’s impressive defensive wall. With the visitors jumping out to a seven goal lead, Cox was brought on for Caldwell with Bailey moving out to goal attack.
The changes coincided with a lift at both ends, Mentor and Chatfield putting the squeeze on Magic’s shooters while Cox slotted in seamlessly at the other end as Vixens threatened a stunning comeback. Magic managed to keep them at bay, going into the final break with a 39-34 lead.
More reshuffles could not help Vixens in the run home, the outstanding pressure created by Kopua and de Bruin backed up by accurate team work and an unwillingness to relinquish all the good work pushed Magic out to a handsome 10-goal lead.
Despite a late Vixens surge, the lead and the clock were always against the home team.
