Magic on top of Netball league table

A Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic tidal wave of goals in the final quarter swept aside the Northern Mystics 59-45 in a trans-Tasman netball championship match in Auckland on Monday night.

The result pushed the Magic into a share of the championship lead on 10 points with the Queensland Firebirds.

In notching up their fifth win from six matches, the Magic were made to work hard in the first half to go into the breather 29-27.

But the Mystics' efforts at staging a comeback was foiled time and again by a tremendous display by goal keeper Casey Williams who received good support from defensive partner Jodi Tod.

At the other end, Magic's international shooters Irene van Dyke and Maria Tutaia displayed their growing partnership to punish the Mystics for the numerous turnovers they conceded, particularly in the final quarter.

The Magic led the first quarter 15-13 after falling 6-3 behind early on as Magic defenders Leana de Bruin and Vilimaina Davu contested every inch of the circle against Tutaia and Van Dyk.

With a player such as Temepara George as their dynamo at centre, the Mystics fought back each time the Magic produced a spurt in their scoring in the second half.

From 37-31 down, the Mystics, who had overcome an eight-goal deficit to beat the Southern Steel last week, staged a comeback to keep the deficit at 42-38 at the end of the third quarter.

Mystics coach Yvonne Willering shifted George into wing attack with Rawinia Everitt coming in at centre but the move failed to pay dividends in the final quarter as the Magic capitalised on turnovers to shoot out to a 47-38 lead.

From then, the Mystics fell apart under the pressure of playing catch-up and the Magic coasted to a comfortable win with a 14-goal margin.

Tutaia was a picture of consistency from distance, scoring 23 from 29 attempts while Van Dyk shot 36 from 39 from close in.

Latu made 30 goals from 34 attempts while Topia managed only 15 from 23, and just two in the final quarter.