29 Jun 2010

Magic still a chance of making Grand Final

6:21 am on 29 June 2010

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic will play for a place in the trans-Tasman netball championship final after they beat the Southern Steel 50-42 in the minor semi-final in Auckland.

They'll play the New South Wales Swifts in Newcastle next Sunday with the winner to take on the Thunderbirds in the Grand Final in Adelaide a week later.

The Magic started strongly with goal keep Casey Williams at her best and led 16-8 after the first quarter until an eight goal run from the Steel with captain Megan Dehn impressive at goal attack reduced the margin to just one.

The Magic led by three at half-time then five unanswered goals took the Steel into the lead for the first time four minutes into the third quarter.

But with captain Laura Langman in dominant form the Magic regained their momentum to lead 38-32 going into the last quarter.