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International Netball: England Roses win by one goal over the Silver Ferns to begin the 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series in Auckland

by Sports Benches

Nearly two months after the 2024 ANZ Premiership Grand Final, NZ Netball is back this time to begin their International season on home soil starting with the three-match Taini Jamison Trophy series v England Roses. It’s been a big arm wrestle between those two top-notch teams with the Ferns winning that first quarter while England were right next to them as both teams shared the scoreboard at half-time by 29-29. Later on, the Ferns’ starts/restarts never looked out of place but then England began to stretch a couple of goal leads going into the final 15 minutes. It was either Ferns or Roses to settle the score and it was the England Roses who won by just one goal (58-59) in Auckland. England lead the three-match series 1-0 going into Game 2 on Wednesday at Te Rauparaha Arena in Poirua which is the alternate current home of the Central Pulse.

Funmi Fadoju is the woman of the hour at goal defense for the England Roses, having done a spectacular job bombing up an inconsistent Silver Ferns front two attack. Who needs height when she’s got so much defensive quality alongside Fran Williams (she’s right around at 6ft by the way) at goal keeper? She also demonstrated some excellent attacking transition through the mid-court that got the best out of her front two where goals after goals were needed to steer clear off the Ferns. Keep a good eye on her who always keeps on improving like she did to the Diamonds over the past week in the Quad Series with more to come at age 22.

It’s not just Fadoju who is putting in these hard yards, Imogen Allison is another standout England Roses player to look at in the middle (centre position). She got away with 19 goal assists, 38 feeds and 4 general play turnovers that got the best out of her front two duo in Liv Tchine and Helen Housby. She too struck the perfect balance with credit to England’s solid defense while she was able to get around the Ferns backline on the counter-attack & yet her side has been pulling up trees from 2, 3, 4 goal leads to a relieved full-time win. Don’t forget she’s at the right place at 26 as Allison is already Queensland Firebirds bound next season.

And the Silver Ferns starring goal shooter and NSW Swifts bound Grace Nweke had a stunning shooting day after all, who only missed a couple of shots (49 out of 55) while making a couple of rebounds/general play turnovers to keep the Ferns in check. Grace credits the Ferns fast start and restart including the team’s solid defense. Yes, her team were so unlucky towards the end to England by just the one goal as at least a draw will do it. But she definitely needs support in & out of the circle, especially when it comes to the Ferns’s selection/tactics other than a rock-solid defense of their own & unfortunately that really cost them tonight.

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ANZ Premiership: Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic sensational to put themselves inside the Top 3 bubble after their 42-54 win over the Northern Mystics with four rounds to go

by Sports Benches

Another great game of Monday Night Netball to finish off Round 11 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership at The Trusts Arena in Auckland with another Northern Mystics-Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic contest. The first quarter was close enough by the two sides but it was the Magic who has been in cruise control for the majority before they got themselves out of here with a big win as well as the move to 3rd now on the ladder with four rounds to go. Magic led the Mystics by 12 points (18-30) going into half-time and nothing much has happened where Magic kept on scoring before they won also by 12 points (42-54).

Hard to see Mystics fall way out of reach despite a good start including winning the 4th quarter alone when Magic needed to slow things down but their poor passage of play, ill-discipline and using players in and out of the bench ultimately cost them the game as they now sit just outside the Top 3 in 4th. Magic will be up next against another Auckland side in the Northern Stars this Saturday afternoon at home while Mystics will travel to Christchurch on Sunday v the No.1 Mainland Tactix team.

Georgia Takarangi is the Magic defensive engine who can turn things around in an instant at goal defense every time the Mystics struggled to find some ground through to their own shooters. She never stopped grasping this time & time again so Georgia give her mid-courters the chance to get things done at the other end & voila! her side has been exceptional from start to finish including a comfortable lead and win up front. Credit to her natural physical game where she was able to slide her way from out of nowhere & also up high through the poor Mystics passage of play on what has been a magical win tonight that moves them up to 3rd now on the ladder & hopefully play Finals this year with four regular weeks to go.

Then the well-traveled Claire O’Brien also had a terrific performance on her 50th national game at wing attack for the Magic. She is someone who benefited from her side’s brilliant back three defense and Ariana Cable-Dixon in the mid-court, having been an excellent feeder with the ball on hand to her front two shooters where goals were made there towards the inside circle. She’s happy to be here in Waikato after playing for so many clubs over the years but sure she will use the experience and setbacks to push her side towards a brilliant end to the 2024 season with a possible Finals run now possible.

And Filda Vui did the best she can to keep the Mystics ticking at goal assist. She has a brilliant eye both from a shooting and natural game standpoint even though she might not be the tallest up front, but is always an excellent team player where she knows what’s best to get the Mystics over the shooting net. But it’s unfortunate that the Mystics poor passage of play, plenty of ill-discipline and endless chopping and changing from the bench wasn’t her team’s night – not even the injury cloud hasn’t helped them that much despite seeing Grace Nweke back on-court as they now sit just outside the Top 3 Finals bubble in 4th.

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2024 ANZ Premiership Netball News, Mystics too good tonight with Magic’s 2nd half turnaround not enough after their poor start

by Sports Benches

There was twists and turns to finish off Week 6 of 15 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership Netball season on a Monday night in Auckland where the Northern Mystics well clear past Bay of Plenty Magic with the win 54-44.

First two quarters saw the Mystics score as many as 16-18 while the Magic struggled to stop their opponents or the formidable attacking three in its tracks going into the break 34-16 – that’s a huge difference of 18 points between the two teams. Yes, the Magic began to rebound with back-to-back 2nd quarter leads alone thanks to a series of changes off the bench even but still fell short where their key player Ameliaranne Ekanasio unexpectedly had to sit out due to illness forced the Mystics hand who didn’t waste any time closing the game down towards the final whistle.

Hats off to Peta Toeava with her outstanding performance tonight at wing attack of 23 goal assists & 50 feeds for the Mystics who provides a great supply for her two attackers to get the job inside the circle. She might not be tall but has a an excellent read that benefited her front three alongside an exceptional level of fitness and physicality after causing the Magic so much trouble on the court. Next up is another Mystics player Tayla Earle where she too worked well together with Toeava in the middle that ensured the Mystics destructive shooting structure at the end of the day with a big win. She not only kept a great eye on the Magic defensively but also showed her versatility further up the court in attack thanks to her wonderful skillsets & communication. Gotta say that the Northern Mystics was too good with a top quality first half start even though they were aware that the Magic can crawl back later on but that didn’t bother them a lot thanks to a 10-point win. They will now be heading off to Dunedin this Sunday v Southern Steel who is sitting last right now which shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

And Saviour Tui has done so much to put the Magic on the map as the leading goal shooter after she scored the most goals tonight at 31 out of 36 attempts with a highest overall percentage of 86%. She’s so tall with a brilliant attitude who will always get the job done from close range & also as with lots more to come after she swapped for the South to Waikato in 2024. But then as said, she had to take up the heavy lifting when the Magic’s poor first half defense & a lack of link-up play including no Ameliaranne Ekenasio due to illness saw them collapse left, right and centre. Magic may be staying 4th for now on the ladder but still have a long way to go & get Top 3 that would guarantee them Finals with the Central Pulse next up on Saturday.

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