2 Jul 2012

Mystics secure major semi-final berth after one-goal victory

11:40 am on 2 July 2012

The Northern Mystics will play the Melbourne Vixens in the major semi-final of the trans-Tasman neball competition after delivering a tense 50-49 win over the New South Wales Swifts in Auckland on Sunday.

With top spot out of reach, the Mystics needed the win in the last round of the regular season to secure second place, and with it an extra life in the playoffs.

Needing a win to have any chance of progressing, the Swifts brought their A-game for their last roll of the dice, and pushed out to a 39-35 lead at the last break.

But the Mystics grabbed key turnovers and held their nerve to snatch the win, Catherine Latu putting in another 100 percent shooting effort.

Earlier the Central Pulse blew a golden opportunity for their first win on Australian soil when they led the West Coast Fever in Perth for most of the game.

A positional change, which saw Diamonds' player Catherine Cox back into Goal Shoot, worked a treat and the Fever came out 40-38 victors.

Elsewhere the Adelaide Thunderbirds predictably beat the Canterbury Tactix at home 65 - 44.

In the final regular game of the season the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic will look to seal their place in the top four when they meet the Queensland Firebirds in Hamilton tonight.