Latest news with #SophiaLafaiali'i
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Mystics too strong for Magic in netball clash
The Mystics' Sophia Lafaiali'i hauls in the ball against the Magic, during an ANZ Premiership match in Hamilton, on Saturday 21 June. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 The Northern Mystics have beaten the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic for the second time in a week, but this time it was more decisive. The Mystics won 63-51, with stand-in goal shoot Sophia Lafaiali'i starring with another brilliant display. It was a more dominant performance than their two point win over the same rivals on Monday . The latest win sees the Mystics overtake the Tactix at the top of the ANZ Premiership ladder, though the Christchurch-based team can regain number one spot if they beat the Stars in Christchurch on Sunday. Lafaiali'i, who has come into the team in recent weeks for the injured Donnell Wallam, played like a cool veteran, not missing a shot until the third quarter. She nailed 47 of her 49 one-point attempts and one from three for her super shot attempts. Filda Vui backed her up with 12 points. Lafaiali'i would have been thankful for the slick feeding from her team-mates. Match stats told a story, with the Mystics having 23 more shots at goal and a centre pass conversion rate of 82 percent, compared to just 58 percent for the Magic. The Mystics led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter and never let go of it. They dominated strongly early in the second quarter before Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Saviour Tui launched a super shot blitz, with Tui landing four straight. It was 30-27 to the Mystics at half-time, 46-40 after three quarters, and they outscored the Magic by six points in the final stanza. Tui and Ekenasio were accurate for the Magic but they didn't get nearly enough opportunities due to the strong defensive efforts of Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Catherine Hall. Ameliaranne Ekenasio, left, pulls in the ball for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, under the watch of Michaela Sokolich-Beatson of the Northern Mystics. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Tui shot 16 from 17 of her one-point attempts and seven from 10 of her two-pointers, while Ekenasio was 100 percent with her 17 one-pointers, and landed two from her five two-point shots. Mystics midcourter Tayla Earle said the team was pleased to improve on their display on Monday, and said they had learned from that. "We have been talking about trying to apply pressure earlier so we don't have to rely on our big backs in the circle, so I am proud of the girls," she told Sky Sport. Magic coach Mary-Jane Araroa took some heart from an improved performance from Monday's effort, but rued a lack of timing and connection from her players. "We can't stay in the eliminations with those kind of stats," she told Sky Sport. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Hobbiton Cup Stays With Mystics After Comfortable Win Over Magic
Showing greater consistency, the Northern Mystics led throughout to retain their grip on the Hobbiton Cup with a deserved 63-51 win over AVIS Magic in Hamilton on Saturday. In a short turnaround after the two teams played each other just six days ago, resulting in a dour 40-38 win to the Mystics, both sides focussed on control and ball retention after their previous match highlighted an excessively high turnover rate. With the Magic decked out in green and yellow to signify the traditional Hobbiton Cup match between the two sides, the home side were left relying on the two-point shot after falling behind on the scoreboard. The Mystics enjoyed 23 more shots at goal and despite the Magic having a high accuracy rate, volume of ball proved the difference. The Mystics were more consistent overall and able to rally when the home side produced a flurry of two-pointers. Despite Saviour Tui hitting a sensational seven super shots for the Magic, it was all too little too late with the Mystics providing a telling last quarter to snuff out any hopes of an ambush from the home side. Both sides presented with predictable starting line-ups, the Magic retaining the seven they have used throughout the season while the Mystics also adopted a similar strategy. Replacement shooter Sophia Lafaiali'i was awarded her straight start while captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson remained in the goal defence role. In a contrast to their previous match-up, both teams showed promising execution on attack with improved flow and accuracy in an evenly-contested opening stanza. The Mystics in-circle defensive pairing of Sokolich-Beatson and Catherine Hall continued to impress with their ability to squeeze the Magic shooting pair of Ameliaeranne Ekenasio and Saviour Tui, who responded well through movement and aerial athleticism. The Mystics enjoyed a slightly higher possession rate but with a 100 percent shooting return the Magic were well in the contest when trailing 13-11 at the first break. Injected at wing defence for the Mystics on the resumption, Holly Rae had immediate impact when quickly picking up a turnover and an intercept as the visitors made a forceful 9-3 run with Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle taking charge of the midcourt. That prompted a tactical timeout by an increasingly frustrated Magic ahead of dramatic shift in fortunes as the second stanza unfolded. With Oceane Maihi and Erena Mikaere lifting their defensive output, the Magic's shooters also struck a purple patch. Trailing by 11 and looking in a heap of trouble, Ekenasio with one and Tui, four, rose to the occasion from the super shot zone. Rapidly trimming the deficit with their ability from range while maintaining a 100 percent shooting accuracy, the Magic were hot on the Mystics heels when trailing 30-27 at the main break. After an even start, a similar pattern developed during the third quarter, another Mystics burst giving the visitors' the slightest of edges to keep the Magic at arms-length. The ability of goalkeeper Hall to create turnovers remained a point of difference while at the other end the promising Lafaiali'i defied her limited time at the elite level with an accomplished outing and remaining unruffled as she continued to rattle in the goals. Captain Ekenasio and Maihi were industrious toilers for the home side, the Magic once again resorting to two pointers in the final five minutes to bridge the gap. Tui and Ekenasio obliged with one apiece but couldn't find the same reward as they did in the second quarter as the Mystics forged a decent but not unattainable 46-40 lead at the last break.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
LockerRoom: Mystic connection – Rookie steps up for her injured idol
She shot out of nowhere – a cool-handed young shooter who helped put the Northern Mystics' season back on track. And even Sophia Lafaiali'i never expected her rapid rise, as Suzanne McFadden discovers. If there's one player in world netball right now who Sophia Lafaiali'i looks up to, it's Australian
