Mystics cement top spot in NZ netball

May 18, 2015 - 9:39 AM The Northern Mystics sealed a berth in the trans-Tasman netball league after a 54-49 win over neighbours the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Auckland.

The result meant the Mystics, who were coming off a bye, increased their margin in the New Zealand conference to five points with two rounds to go.

The Magic remain second, but are now just a point in front of the Southern Steel and the Central Pulse.

The decisive period in a contest between two sides who had drawn their earlier meeting in the season was the opening quarter.

The Mystics, displaying plenty of urgency, flew out of the blocks on Monday night and they were helped by a Magic side who were hesitant early on.

Lively goal defence Kayla Cullen led the home side's effort at the back, while mid-courters Laura Langman and Camilla Lees were able to get good ball into shooters Maria Tutaia and Cathrine Latu.

Latu again showed her accuracy, missing just one of her 31 attempts during the course of the match.

The Mystics put up twice as many shots in the opening quarter and a 9-1 run midway through took them out to a comfortable 17-8 lead at the first break.

The Magic did bring more intensity into the second quarter when, have fallen behind by 11 goals, they narrowed the gap to 29-23 at halftime.

The visitors continued to press over the remainder of the clash, but couldn't close the deficit to less than three goals as each little spurt they made was responded to by the Mystics.

There was speculation pre-match that this could be the fixture that Silver Ferns skipper Casey Kopua returned from a serious knee injury.

However, Kopua, who suffered the injury last October during the Constellation Cup series against Australia, remained on the bench.

Source: AAP