2010 ANZ Championship: Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic

REGIONS: Waikato, Bay of Plenty MAJOR SPONSOR: First Windows & Doors COACH: Noeline Taurua WEB: www.netballmagic.co.nz ANZ Championship Record 2009 - Played 15; Won 11; 22 Points; 3rd 2008 - Played 16; Won 11; 20 Points; 2nd (& Minor Premiership winners) A Grand Final appearance, a Minor Premiership and a third placing from two top four finishes make a great opening chapter to Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic's ANZ Championship history, but it's the story of victory they want to add this year. With five current Silver Ferns in her 2009 squad, coach Noeline Taurua had every reason to be confident that Magic would bring the trophy back to New Zealand. After winning eleven of their first 12 matches, including a splendid seven-goal defeat of the Melbourne Vixens in Round 10 - the Vixens' only defeat last year - they were right on target to do that. However, a 19-goal loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Round 14 marked the start of a season-end slump that put Magic out of title contention. The departure of Silver Ferns Maria Tutaia and Joline Henry to the Northern Mystics has left gaps filled by former Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown, and former Australian defender Peta Scholz who was outstanding in last year's World 7 team. Scholz' fitness, tenacity and rugged professionalism make her a valuable acquisition and her ANZ Championship debut will be keenly watched on both sides of the Tasman. Two new signings from Bay of Plenty are experienced shooter Tanya Lund, who played for Magic in the National Bank Cup, and just-out-of-high-school defender Amy Christophers, a member of the successful 2009 NZ Secondary Schools team. A New Zealand junior women's volleyball team representative, Christophers has also competed in the heptathlon, triple jump and javelin at the national championships. Another defender, Kahurangi Waititi, who got only one game with Tactix last year, completes the list of new recruits, while 22-year-old Jess Tuki and 19-year-old Elias Shadrock return from the 2009 squad. Magic retains abundant strength from last year's regular starting line-up, with the Silver Ferns combination of Casey Williams, Laura Langman and Irene van Dyk (pictured, right) providing first magnitude star power through the court. Frances Solia and Jodi Tod are likely to complete the starting line-up with Brown and Scholz. Magic must bring their very best form to the court right from Round 1, when they meet current champions, the Vixens, in Melbourne. In Round 2 they confront Steel in Rotorua, then Mystics in Auckland, Fever in Hamilton and Tactix in Christchurch before their Round 6 bye.
2010 WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC SQUAD
PLAYER	AGE	HEIGHT	POSITIONS	2009 ANZC	2009 NATIONAL	2009 OTHER
Jodi Brown	28	1.85m	GA, GS	Tactix	--	--
Amy Christophers	18	1.85m	GK, GD	--	NZ Secondary Schools	Bay of Plenty U19 Otumoetai College
Laura Langman - Captain	23	1.74m	WD, C, WA	Magic	Silver Ferns	--
Tanya Lund	27	1.76m	GA, WA	--	--	Bay of Plenty
Peta Scholz	34	1.80m	WD, C, GD	--	--	World 7
Elias Shadrock	19	1.78m	C, WD	Magic	--	Waikato
Frances Solia	33	1.69m	WA, C	Magic	--	World 7
Jodi Tod	29	1.81m	GD, WD, GK	Magic	--	Bay of Plenty
Jess Tuki	22	1.85m	GA, GS, WA	Magic	--	Waikato
Irene van Dyk	37	1.90m	GS, GA	Magic	Silver Ferns	--
Kahurangi Waititi	27	1.85m	GK, GD	Tactix	--	--
Casey Williams	24	1.88m	GK, GD	Magic	Silver Ferns	--
TEAM AVERAGE AGE	26.8
TEAM AVERAGE HEIGHT	1.81m
2010 WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC DRAW & RESULTS
ROUND 1 - Away	v Vixens LOSS: 40-48
ROUND 2 - Home	v Steel WIN: 47-41
ROUND 3 - Away	v Mystics WIN: 55-46
ROUND 4 - Home	v Fever WIN: 55-50
ROUND 5 - Away	v Tactix WIN: 53-36
ROUND 6 - BYE	BYE
ROUND 7 - Home	v Mystics
ROUND 8 - Home	v Pulse
ROUND 9 - Home	v Tactix
ROUND 10 - Away	v Steel
ROUND 11 - Home	v Firebirds
ROUND 12 - Away	v Swifts
ROUND 13 - Away	v Pulse
ROUND 14 - Home	v Thunderbirds