Taurua spells it out for Magic

By MATT RICHENS - Waikato Times | Thursday, 03 July 2008

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic netball team have been putting too much pressure on themselves, coach Noeline Taurua says.

The Magic mentor believes that if the team can relax, regain their confidence to throw more direct passes and go back to how they know they can play the game, they are still on track to be the first ANZ Championship title holders.

After the Magic struggled to a 47-43 loss in Invercargill on Monday against a physical Southern Steel side, Taurua thinks that if their opposition for the rest of the season want to try the rough and tumble approach the Steel did, the Magic have the answer.

"We've got to make sure we don't put ourselves in that situation," she said. "We go in to battle sometimes instead of playing the game we want to play."

That game is the fast-paced, slick passing game the type of game which made Magic centre Laura Langman a Silver Fern.

Shooter Irene van Dyk may have had her third perfect game of the season on Monday, landing all 27 of her attempts, but it was not her best game positionally.

She was unable to find space away from sizeable Steel goalkeep Megan Hutton, and with no midcourt flow the successful ploy of scoring quickly through long balls to van Dyk was never an option.

"In our attacking end we have to get off the body so we don't get caught up in that physical one-on-one," Taurua said. "I think there are also times we're getting caught with that ball too much and need to get rid of it quicker.

"We've got to use the speed, we've got to use the angles and we've got to use the movement more than muscling up."

The Magic host the Canterbury Tactix in the final game of the round-robin season on Saturday at Mystery Creek and despite the permutations affecting the top two playoff spots, Taurua is more focused on the performance and winning.

The Magic are tied top of the table with the New South Wales Swifts, but ahead by just two goals on goal difference.

With the top two teams getting a life in the three-week playoff series, the big advantage of finishing top is hosting the first semifinal. For the Magic that means avoiding a third trip to Australia where they have lost twice this season.

"We've got to stop talking about it and get on with the job. We do need goal difference, but if we worry about that before going for the win it could be a problem."

Holding on to the ball and not letting the opposition dictate were also areas of concern for Taurua.

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