The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have halted the Northern Mystics recent winning run to an end with a comprehensive 67-52 win in their domestic netball clash in Hamilton.
Casey Kopua will be back for her 15th season with the WKBOP Magic. Photo: Photosport
Captain Casey Kopua proved she's still one of the best defenders in the game when leading from the front, constantly in the thick of the action and inspiring with her all-round individual play.
Once they found their feet, there was no stopping the Magic who delivered an all-round team performance.
With five intercepts, Kopua provided the inspiration while ever-reliable shooter Lenize Potgieter, who slotted 50 goals from 53 attempts, provided the difference in lowering the Mystics sails in decisive fashion after the visitors came into the match with back-to-back wins over the top two teams.
Both teams enjoyed mini surges but greater shooing accuracy and the disrupting play of Kopua and Kate Lloyd helped the Magic take a 32-26 lead into half-time.
Mystics stalwart Maria Folau made her entrance to the game in the second half, but the third quarter belonged entirely to the home team.
The Magic's consistency on attack and persistence on defence continued to pay dividends, the visitors becoming increasingly rattled and unable to stem the flow.
With her shooters finding plenty of freedom in the circle, Ariana Cable-Dixon supplied a steady stream of quality ball, the home team piling on the pressure while increasing their handy margin.
In a repeat of the first quarter, the home team finished with an unanswered five-goal flourish to be in the box seat when leading 50-37 into the final quarter, before sealing the 67-52 win to climb above the Mystics into fourth place on the six team ladder.
