Magic fall at final hurdle
07/11/2010 05:52:12 PM
The Adelaide Thunderbirds won the ANZ Championship on Sunday, defeating Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic by 10 goals in a one-sided affair at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The Magic were aiming to become the first non-Australian team to take the title, but were unable to do so in front of the crowd of over 9000.
The home side shot out to a 15-8 quarter-time lead and did not look back, maintaining the seven-goal lead at half-time before pushing it out to 10 goals at three-quarter time, before an even final quarter saw the T-birds win their first ANZ Championship.
The Adelaide side was denied last season by the Melbourne Vixens in the season decider, while the Magic were runners-up for the second time, after the NSW Swifts took the title in their grand final in 2008.
Carla Borrego dominated for the hosts, scoring 40 goals from 46 attempts, duly supported by Erin Bell, who shot 12 from 19.
The ever-accurate Irene van Dyk gave her side every chance, shooting 30 from 33, with sidekick Jodi Brown shooting 12 from 16 in the season decider.