ANZ Championship: Preliminary Final Preview

Colourplus Waikato / Bay of Plenty Magic v Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Sunday 19th July, 7.00pm
Mystery Creek Events Centre

Dot points;

• The 2009 Preliminary Final is a repeat of the 2008 Preliminary Final. On 21st July 2008 the Colourplus Bay of Plenty Magic played the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Mystery Creek Events Centre. The Magic won that game 51-49.
• This is the second time that the Magic have played the Thunderbirds in the 2009 ANZ Championship. In Round 14 the Thunderbirds defeated the Magic 54-35.
• The two teams met twice in 2008. In Round 1 the Magic beat the Thunderbirds 46–42. And then again in the 2008 Preliminary Final.
• In the last round, the Magic lost to the Vixens 58-43. The Thunderbirds beat the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel 51-45.
• Magic goal shoot, Irene van Dyk, has kept her position at the top of the goal shooting percentage stakes since Round 2 with 93%. In Semi-Final 1 she shot 96%.
• Magic goal attack, Maria Tutaia, is shooting at 79% accuracy for the season. In Semi-Final 1 she shot 83%.
• Natalie Medhurst is the Thunderbird's most accurate shooter, she is shooting at 85% for the season. In Semi-Final 2 she shot 95%.
• Thunderbirds shooter, Kate Beveridge, is shooting at 78% for the season. In Semi-Final 2 she shot 86%.
• The Magic’s home record this season is 100%
• The Thunderbird’s away record this season is 66%

PRELIMINARY FINAL PREVIEW

Form is an elusive thing, says Kathryn Harby-Williams; reversal of form, be it good or bad, is only ever a game away.

But the big question for the former Australian captain and SkySport commentator is whether Colourplus Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic has what it takes to reverse their fortunes in Sunday’s preliminary final against the in-form Adelaide Thunderbirds, and keep their hopes alive in the 2009 ANZ Championship.

In the space of two games, Magic have gone from competition leaders to a team struggling with injury woes and back-to-back confidence-crushing losses, first to Thunderbirds and then grand finalists Melbourne Vixens.

Harby-Williams say from the hurt and frustration Magic will be going through trying to discover where it has all gone wrong, they must undergo “a true test of character” to capture an all-important win in front of their home crowd at the Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton.

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