The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have trounced the Northern Mystics 63-47 in a fierce elimination final in the New Zealand conference of the trans-Tasman netball competition in Hamilton.
They will now play the Southern Steel in the conference final in Invercargill next Sunday.
The Magic's Casey Kopua tussles with the Mystics' Cathrine Latu in last year's conference final. Photo: Photosport
The Magic dominated the first quarter, building a seven-goal lead, and were up 17-10 at the end of the first quarter.
They maintained that lead at half-time, going to the break 31-24.
Defenders on both sides were given warnings by the umpires, with players getting frustrated with opponents' tactics and umpiring decisions - and voicing their displeasure to match officials, which further heightened tensions.
Neither team made inroads on the seven-point margin in the third quarter, with Magic leading 43-36 going into the final quarter.
The Mystics lost midcourter Nadia Loveday to a serious knee injury in the third quarter.
Further injury-enforced changes in the final quarter, with the Mystics bringing Cath Tuivaiti and Kayla Cullen off, saw the Mystics fall further behind, as the Magic sped away to win by 16 goals.
Magic shooter Jo Harten said she was pleased by the margin of the win in such a physical match.
"It's testament to us and credit to us and we can't wait to now carry on in this competition."
Mystics shooter Cath Tuivaiti was scathing of the umpiring, labelling it "one-sided".
"But do I think it's the reason we lost? No. We had heaps of opportunities and we blew them and it cost us the game," she said.
In the Australian conference elimination final, the New South Wales Swifts had a comfortable 67-53 won over the Melbourne Vixens - and will now play the Queensland Firebirds in the Australian conference final next weekend.
