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The Adelaide Thunderbirds have knocked the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic from top spot with a 54-35 win in the last regular season round of the trans-Tasman netball competition.
Despite a largely mixed season, the Thunderbirds on Sunday proved they’ve got what it takes to seriously challenge for the championship this year.
After an average game against the Southern Steel last time out, the Thunderbirds reinforced their image as the team to keep an eye on with an impressive, fact-paced win at Distinctive Homes Dome in Adelaide.
The result means the ladder-topping Melbourne Vixens (12-1) will host the second-placed Magic (11-2) in the major semi-final.
The third-placed Thunderbirds (10-3) will host either the Southern Steel or Queensland in the minor semi, with the Firebirds needing to beat the West Coast Fever by 10 goals or more on Monday night to secure fourth spot.
Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson said the margin of the victory was bigger than she had expected.
“We were confident, but after a very short week … it was a very halted preparation,” she said.
“We played a very calculated game.
“It was really important to us today to make sure we did have a good performance, confidence wise.
“I know they can do it but I think they needed to know they can do it.”
Magic held the Thunderbirds at arm’s length for much of the first quarter until the home side took control of play and forged a 13-goal lead by halftime.
The Magic never caught sight of the lead again, allowing the Thunderbirds their 19-goal margin.
Woodlands-Thompson said it was hard to pick the best player on the court.
“It was a total eight, nine person contribution,” she said.
“Full credit to the goalers, they shot under some enormous pressure and just didn’t flinch and the defence was as good as I’ve seen in two years.”
Magic coach Noeline Taurua said the New Zealand side had its tail between its legs right from the start of the game.
“We knew we had to win this game by a certain number of points and we left that at the door stop, to be honest, there is a bigger picture for us,” she said.
“It showed areas of the court, probably more mentally, where we lapsed.
“We’ve just got to pull it up for next week.
“It’s about us being tougher on the ball and mentally being able to take the knocks and get over it and play the game instead of waiting for the umpires to do the call.
“If we learn from this mistake, we can only get better for next week.”