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Flames aim to burn Magic

Flames aim to burn Magic

It will be a business as usual approach from the Goldair Flames when they come up against the defending champions in the National Bank Cup netball league on Saturday.

Confronting the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic supported by Sleepyhead in Rotorua will present the Flames with the their toughest challenge this season following their impressive wins in the opening two rounds.

After contrasting lead-ins, the Magic and Flames remain the only unbeaten teams heading into the third round. With no lack of quality players, the Magic will face their first real test of the season having made short work of their matches to date while the Flames have shown a ton of character through solid team-work to chip out winning results.

“Things have gone very well for us so far but we’re going to hit the real big guns this weekend,” Flames captain Julie Seymour said.

“This is a biggie and we’re up against a very good team.”

The experience of Seymour and her midcourt partner Maree Bowden has proved pivotal in the Flames retaining possession and having patience on attack.

“Last week we were psyched up for it being like that,” Seymour said.

“Without Shelley (Norris, injured) we knew it wasn’t going to be a smooth run and we weren’t going to have the same flow so our philosophy was, ‘we’ll do whatever it takes’ which meant passing it around until need be and we might have to do similar against the Magic.”

Without wanting to dwell too much on what the opposition will be doing, Seymour said it was impossible to ignore the impact Magic shooter Irene van Dyk posed.

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“Every team looks at Irene, she’s spectacular and a big focus in the Magic and you can’t help but think if you don’t shut her down, you’re going to be out of luck,” she said.

Coach Noeline Taurua is happy with her team’s start and confident the Magic will rise to a new level against the Flames. Acknowledging the firepower in her team, Taurua is looking for an improvement on attack and a reduction in basic errors.

“There is still a feeling that we are a pack of strong individuals who are yet to gel together as a team,” she said.

“Defensively, we are actually good, the new-look attack line is still a work in progress and that understanding will only come with time.”

Rejuvenated by their dramatic comeback win last week, the Trusts Diamonds head south with a spring in their step for an encounter with the Otago Rebels, who have yet to hit top form in the competition.

In what is shaping as a close contest, Diamonds coach Sue Hawkins said last week’s win against the Force had instilled a feeling of self-belief and confidence.

“It was a great lift, if we’d gone under last week it would have virtually shattered our campaign,” she said.

“But it’s alive and what we saw was a big step up.”

“The Rebels have had a loss and will be feeling pretty gutted and they probably under-achieved so they’ll be looking to lift their performance. There would be a couple of players in their team that probably didn’t feel they had their best games.”

Grace Rasmussen stepped into the shooting circle last weekend for the Diamonds with aplomb, sparking her more illustrious partner Maria Tutaia to a rousing second half performance.

The Rebels will be looking to their new season signing Jodi Te Huna, on the rebound from a serious injury, to do a similar job for them this week.

In other matches, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Sting will be firm favourites on their home ground against the Genesis Energy Shakers in Invercargill.

The Fujifilm Force will host the More FM Flyers in the final match of the round on Sunday.

The National Bank Cup Round Three Draw
Friday, 7.30pm: Rebels vs Diamonds, Dunedin (Delayed coverage 12:00 Saturday)
Saturday, 7.30pm: Sting vs Shakers, Invercargill
Saturday, 7.30pm: Magic vs Flames, Rotorua (Live on ONESport)
Sunday, 1.00pm: Force vs Flyers, North Shore

Confirmed Shooting Statistics

Player Team Goals ATT Per % Average Games
Lovila Paki Shakers 7 7 100% 7.0 1
Grace Rasmussen Diamonds 6 6 100% 6.0 1
Irene van Dyk Waikato/BOP Magic 114 120 95% 57.0 2
Shelley Norris Canterbury Flames 15 16 94% 15.0 1
Donna Wilkins Southern Sting 53 57 93% 26.5 2
Jade Topia Canterbury Flames 66 79 84% 33.0 2
Susan Tagicakibau Diamonds 5 6 83% 5.0 1
Catherine Latu Force 54 65 83% 27.0 2
Paula Griffin Diamonds 29 35 83% 14.5 2
Maria Tutaia Diamonds 51 64 80% 25.5 2
Angela Mitchell Otago Rebels 45 57 79% 22.5 2
Jodi Te Huna Rebels 41 52 79% 20.5 2
Julianna Nauopu Canterbury Flames 10 13 77% 5.0 2
Jamilah Gupwell Shakers 32 42 76% 16.0 2
Sala Hide Shakers 43 58 74% 21.5 2
Amber Bellringer Flyers 36 50 72% 18.0 2
Megan Dehn Force 36 51 71% 18.0 2
Daneka Wipiiti Southern Sting 52 74 70% 26.0 2
Hayley Stockman Flyers 23 33 70% 11.5 2
Tanya Lund Waikato/BOP Magic 21 31 68% 10.5 2
Natalie Avellino Southern Sting 8 12 67% 8.0 1
Anna Senio Canterbury Flames 5 10 50% 5.0 1
Julie Kelman-Poto Force 3 6 50% 3.0 1
Malu Fa'asavalu Flyers 3 8 38% 3.0 1
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit Southern Sting 0 5 0% 0.0 1
Asha Tett Waikato/BOP Magic 0 5 0% 0.0 1


ends

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