Magic leapfrog Stars to third place in ANZ Premiership with dominant victory
The Magic have stamped their authority on the ANZ Premiership, leaping over the Stars and into third place with a 51-38 victory at the Claudelands Arena on Monday night. The win was built on an impressive defensive display as they suffocated the Stars’ attacking play, while also showcasing their own impressive attacking firepower.
Magic dominate from the outset
The Magic set the tone early in the match, racing out to a 4-0 lead within the first few minutes. The Stars tried to find their way back into the contest, but were constantly met with tenacious defence from the Magic. Led by captain Sam Winders and goal keeper Erena Mikaere, the Magic restricted the Stars to just seven goals in the first quarter, while scoring 14 of their own.
Stars struggle to find rhythm
The second quarter saw the Stars try and mount a comeback, but they struggled to find any rhythm as the Magic continued to apply pressure. Silver Ferns shooter Maia Wilson was kept quiet by the Magic defence, finishing the quarter with just nine goals from 12 attempts. At the other end of the court, Magic shooters Kelsey McPhee and Georgia Marshall were finding their groove, combining for 21 goals in the first half.
Magic put the game to bed in the third quarter
Any hopes of a Stars fightback were extinguished in the third quarter as the Magic put the game to bed. With Winders and Mikaere continuing to dominate defensively, and McPhee and Marshall proving almost unstoppable in attack, the Magic outscored the Stars 16-7 in the quarter to take a commanding 45-27 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
Stars consolation in the final quarter
The Stars managed to win the final quarter 11-6, but it was too little too late as the Magic held on for a comfortable 13-goal victory. McPhee finished with 33 goals from 39 attempts, while Marshall shot at an impressive 93% accuracy, netting 18 goals from 19 shots. For the Stars, Wilson top-scored with 23 goals from 29 attempts.
Hashtags: #ANZPremiership #MagicNetball #NetballWin #StrongDefence #ImpressiveAttack
Summary: The Magic have moved up to third place in the ANZ Premiership with a dominant 51-38 victory over the Stars. Led by captain Sam Winders and goal keeper Erena Mikaere, the Magic suffocated the Stars’ attacking play while showcasing their own impressive attacking firepower. The victory was built on an impressive defensive display and a strong attacking performance, with shooters Kelsey McPhee and Georgia Marshall combining for 49 goals. #SPORT