The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic bagged the points after accounting for the Canterbury Tactix 53-36 in a bruising ANZ Championship netball clash in Christchurch tonight.
With the final result never in doubt, the Magic left their imprint on a scrappy spectacle highlighted by a high penalty count, a willing physical contest, where bodies were continually put on the line, and an error rate neither team would be proud of.
The Magic were superior in most facets, their better finishing getting them home in a canter while the Tactix were let down by a lack of accuracy under the hoop.
The Magic built on a measured start before flexing their muscle with a late surge just ahead of the first break.
Irene van Dyk and Jodi Brown held sway in the Magic circle, their clever little interchanges leaving the Tactix defenders flat-footed. The visitors denied the home team their traditional fast start but a full of purpose Anna Thompson directed her attacking line well from goal attack.
The Magic took advantage of the Tactix growing penalty count to edge into a position of control when leading 17-11 at the first break.
Undeterred, the Tactix came out steaming on the resumption but there was a lack of control from both teams in a messy second quarter. The home team made a mini comeback to put themselves back in contention but frittered away all the hard work with a rash of turnovers.
Both teams increased their defensive efforts which stifled a free-flowing spectacle as the physicality intensified. The Magic showed the greater patience getting the ball through court with the ever-reliable van Dyk adding the polish under the hoop.
At the other end of the court, the Tactix got the shooting wobbles with several close-range shots missing as Magic defenders Casey Williams and Jodi Tod turned up the heat.
The greater accuracy of van Dyk, who had a perfect 16 from 16 and Brown 12 from 15, gave the Magic a handy 28-19 halftime buffer also helped by restricting the Tactix to just eight goals.
Scoring the first four goals after halftime, the Magic threatened to run away with the match but the Tactix spoiled that intent with an effective midcourt zone. The home team's defensive trio of Victoria Smith, Charlotte Kight and Crofts caused the Magic's attackers problems in clearing the ball.
There was a host of ill-directed passes from the Magic in a scrappy exhibition but once in the safe hands of van Dyk and Brown, there was little doubt another goal being added.
With the greater player power, the Magic absorbed all the pressure, repelling everything the Tactix could throw at them in battle of attrition that finally ground the home team into submission.
Unable to keep the visitors at bay, the Tactix coughed up too much ball under pressure as the Magic made full use of their possession. Restricting the Tactix to just seven goals, the Magic held all the cards as they went to the last break 43-26 ahead.
Both teams made wholesale changes in the final quarter, the most significant being van Dyk, who was benched after taking a heavy fall earlier. It made little difference to the Magic, who continued to dominate.