Magic suffer first loss in extra time thriller
Kia Magic suffered their first loss of the season when going down 56-53 to the Pulse in an epic extra time battle in Hamilton on Monday.
The New Zealand derby lived up to its promise, a tight, tense clash where defence ruled the day and the result hung in the balance throughout.
Desperate for the win to resurrect their season, Pulse finished the stronger in the 14 minutes of extra time, terrier-like wing defence Joline Henry proving the spoiler against her old team in picking up vital intercept ball for the visitors.
Magic struggled for much of the night on attack, unable to produce their usual flow against a suffocating defence. The talent-laded Pulse enjoyed nine more attempts at goal, Magic having their opportunities but unable to shake the determined Pulse.
There were no surprises in Magic’s starting line-up, coach Julie Fitzgerald sticking with the seven that have served her so well, including wing defence Jamie-Lee Price making her third successive start.
Pulse also went with their tried and true with local girls and former Magic players Elias Shadrock starting at centre and Henry on the wing.
Looking more cohesive than recent outings, the Pulse made the best of starts, quickly zipping out to a five unanswered goal lead before Magic rumbled into life after a wobbly start. With Magic levelling up the scores, the game from that point ebbed and flowed, both teams having their moments but unable to wrest the initiative.
Pulse’s defensive unit of Henry, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Katrina Grant produced an effective zone which had the desired result of slowing Magic’s flow and halting their attacking momentum.
Irene van Dyk, playing against her old team for the first time, and Donna Wilkins initiated some clever interplay under the hoop to give the visitors’ the slight edge when they led 14-11 at the first break.
The arm wrestle continued on the resumption, both teams having to reset on attack time and again due to the huge defensive efforts produced by each side. The pressure resulted in forced errors by both sides continuing the swinging nature of the match.
Magic slowly made inroads, opening up options on attack where centre Courtney Tairi was pivotal with some key turnovers and eyeing her shooters Jo Harten and Ellen Halpenny in space.
Magic grabbed the lead for the first time in the shadow of halftime to finish a productive comeback and forging a 23-21 lead at the main break.
The intensity and pressure showed no signs of lessening through the third stanza, both teams needing to show patience on attack in the face of immense defensive pressure. Every play was keenly contested with neither side prepared to concede an inch, getting the ball into the respective shooters proving a difficult task. Magic defenders Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin were deadly in the air, helping the home team take a three-goal lead with their ability to disrupt but again the Pulse refused to buckle in a thrilling and willing stanza.
Halpenny proved solid in shooting from out wide but Magic could not hold their lead, the teams unable to be separated when locked at 33 apiece heading into the last break.
The drama continued down the home straight, Magic again building tenuous two-goal buffers but unable to drive the nail home in the face of an outstanding defensive effort from the Pulse.
A last second goal from Harten levelled the scores at 45-all at fulltime, fittingly sending the match into an extra time decider.
