Disappointment for the LG Mystics

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

The LG Mystics suffered their first disappointing loss in round three of the ANZ Championship against WBOP Magic over the weekend. LG Mystics 46 Magic 55.

The Magic surged ahead early in the game and raced to a 14-9 first-quarter lead before extending it to 29-21 by halftime. The LG Mystics showed a fierce resolve to fight their way back from the halftime deficit with coach Te Aroha Keenan changing the Mystics lineup with positive results. Jenny-May Coffin was introduced at centre for the third quarter, with Temepara George shifted to wing attack and goal defence Joline Henry moving to wing defence for Kayla Cullen.

The new combination held the Magic to just 11 shots in the third quarter, with the visitors entering the last quarter up 40-36 and under pressure for the first time. The Mystics continued to press, trimming the difference to two goals at one stage before the Magic pulled clear.

Goal shoot Cathrine Latu had a mighty match and succeeded with 30 of 34 attempts, goal attack Tutaia could not offer the same consistency in her return of 16 from 23.

Mystics captain Temepara George concedes they felt some heat, especially at the centre pass off: "I don't think we came out sleepy. They had just done their homework by watching our first two games and we were too slow to adapt. They were good at pressuring individuals and breaking our connections. For example, Peta Scholz was persistent, she never says die."
"It was catch-up netball throughout," says George. "We threw the ball away and we forced the ball on our players."

The Mystics take on the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane in next week's Rivalry Round, which features all trans-tasman clashes, before taking on the defending champions, the Vixens, in Melbourne the following week.

Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan acknowledged the next two weeks is a perilous patch for her team, but said it would not define their season.
"Every game is a dangerous game, which is why we're not doing the big hooray when we win, and we're not going to get too down when we lose. We just have to have a quiet belief in ourselves that we've still got the goods to be a force in this competition."