Magic Continue Strong Start

The strong start for the Waikato/BOP Magic has continued with a 26 goal thumping of the NSW Swifts, stamping their authority on the 2013 season.

Unlike last year where the Magic dropped the first 4 matches and then went on to win the competition, the defending champions seem to be stamping their authority and creating momentum right from the word go.

Of course their first round win match against the Tactix can hardly be over analysed with a lower ranked opponent, but many expected the Swifts to provide a stronger opponent and a closer, tougher faught match.

The first quarter saw the Magic run out to an 18-5 lead and setting the standard for the rest of the game. 3 intercepts and 2 rebounds saw the Magic capitalise and some fantastic circle movement by Jess Waitapu made it look easy against a strong Swifts defensive end.

The young 23 year old goal attack has certainly made a statement in the first 2 games of the season and has seemingly started to fill the shoes of Juliana Nauopu. Her combination with legend GS Irene Van Dyk has really started to take flight and finishing with 85% shooting, 0 turnovers and 12 centre pass receives you would be hard pushed to find a sore spot in her performance against the typically physical Sonia Mkoloma.

Susan Pratley continued where she picked up last week but really struggled to receive good ball from her midcourt. The start of Amorette Wild at GA might well be looked back as possibly the wrong move but certainly the Swifts had their work cut out for them against the Magic defensive unit.

Casey Kopua, Leana DeBruin, Elias Shadrock and captain Laura Langman were defensively perfect. The pressure they applied to the Swifts attacking end was ruthless and as a spectator you could feel the frustration with the Swifts simply having no answers. After 2 rounds they are probably one of the best defensive units alongside the Vixens, which will set up a mouth watering grand final rematch later in the season in June.

Halftime saw the introduction of Ellen Halpenny at GA and Khao Watts into WA replacing Jess Tuki. This brought a change in momentum and the Magic attack certainly wasn’t as fluid as the first half. Compared to Waitapu and Tuki who had relatively even Centre Pass receive statistics, Watts took the majority of them in the second half.

Captain fantastic Laura Langman was leading from the front as always with 19 assits, 3 intercepts, only 4 penalties and 2 turnovers in another solid all round performance. The consistency and experience she brings to the midcourt cant be understated.

Swifts coach Lisa Beehag, made mention of not adjusting to the Kiwi umpires with a lopsided penalty count 77 to 36 in favour of the Swifts. This has certainly been a pattern in the first 2 rounds with teams needing to make the adjustments in order to stay competitive throughout the game.

The Magic travel to Perth this weekend and if the travel factor doesn’t contribute, then there certainly doesn’t suggest to be any reason why they cant continue their winning ways in 2013.

Statistics

Shooting - MAGIC

I VAN DYK - 32/33 - 96%

J WAITAPU - 17/20 - 85%

E HALPENNY - 12/18 - 66%

Shooting - SWIFTS

S PRATLEY - 23/29 - 79%

A WILD - 2/4 - 50%

S DZIWOKI - 10/14 - 71%