The Southern Steel have held off a strong finish from the Northern Mystics to win 52-50 in Invercargill and retain a chance of making the trans-Tasman netball championship.
But after leading by up 15 in the second quarter they allowed the Mystics to close the gap to seven by half-time and keep the pressure on, until the hosts steadied to complete an unconvincing win.
There were no such problems for the Melbourne Vixens though as they cruised to a 63-52 victory over the New South Wales Swifts in Sydney.
The Magic top the table from the Vixens on points difference after 10 rounds with the Adelaide Thunderbirds two points back on 16, four clear of the Steel.
The Queensland Firebirds are fifth on 10 points, two clear of the Canterbury Tactix and West Coast Fever, with the Mystics on six, two ahead of the Swifts, while the Central Pulse remain winless.
