The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have kept their perfect record against the Northern Mystics, weathering a determined challenge to score a 45-39 win in their trans-tasman netball clash in Auckland .
Desperate to get their first win against their neighbours, the start of the double-header Super Round proved a disappointment for Mystics, who slipped to a seventh consecutive loss to Magic.
With Joline Henry ruled out with an ankle injury, the Mystics were forced to reshuffle their defensive line, the promising Kayla Cullen lining up at wing defence while Silver Fern Grace Rasmussen got the nod ahead of Australian veteran Megan Dehn at wing attack.
The scores were level at 23-23 at half time, while the Magic led by one at three-quarter-time.
The Magic play the Central Pulse on Monday while the Mystics-Canterbury Tactix game on Sunday has been postponed as the Tactix' home court, Canterbury Arena, was badly damaged by the big quake.
Meanwhile defending champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds hit back from losing their first two games of the season to thump the West Coast Fever 72-53 in Perth.
