The Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic brought the Hobbiton Cup to Tauranga for the first time, hosting the GoSweetSpot Northern Mystics on Saturday and going down 37-57 in a match where the Mystics proved too strong.
The Magic made an encouraging start, scoring the first three goals and doing well defensively to disrupt the Mystics' ability to play at pace. The opening spell showed what the home side is capable of, with feeders finding shooters in good positions and a disciplined early defensive structure.
Still missing injured midcourt duo Tayla Earle and Katie Te Ao, the Mystics came with considerable experience across their roster and were clinical when they settled. Visiting defenders Catherine Hall and Phoenix Karaka found their groove to apply increasing pressure on Magic shooters Kate Taylor and Saviour Tui, and the Mystics' shooting trio of Maia Wilson, Filda Vui and Sophia Lafaiali'i were ruthlessly accurate throughout - missing just five shots between them across the match. The Mystics extended to a 16-10 lead at the first break.
Both teams rotated heavily through the second quarter. For the Magic, defender Oceane Maihi was a standout, putting in a wholehearted shift to generate turnover ball.
But the Mystics had the answers at every turn, with Hall - who finished with 13 gains and three intercepts - continuing to impose herself, while mercurial midcourter Peta Toeava controlled momentum and showed her vision and awareness to keep the visitors in command on attack.
The Magic committed 14 turnovers across the first half and the Mystics took a 28-19 lead into the break.
The third quarter offered encouragement for the home side, Tui's aerial skills were prominent, a two-pointer cut the margin to four, and Georgie Edgecombe, Maihi and Erena Mikaere created a good share of turnover ball.
But the Mystics finished the quarter with eight unanswered goals to lead 40-30 at the final break, before completing the win with a dominant 17-7 final quarter. Defender Maihi was sin-binned for the final two minutes for unsafe play.
The result gives the Mystics a fifth successive Hobbiton Cup and their first win of the season. The Magic will take lessons from the contest and look to build as the season progresses.
