It's game day as Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic host the Southern Steel at Energy Events Centre in Rotorua today at 4pm, Round 5 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership.

Steel face a Magic side which has a spring in its step after an encouraging performance against the Tactix.

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The Magic lost by just a single goal to the Tactix and captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, while disappointed not to grab maximum points, was pleased with their improvements.

“We’ve learnt heaps and we’re actioning it in the game,” says Ameliaranne.

The defensive combination of Erena Mikaere and Georgia Takarangi continues to trouble shooters throughout the league – the latter grabbing six gains for her team last week including an impressive five intercepts. Ameliaranne believes links across the court are improving each round.

“I think we’re really growing into being comfortable on court with each other, we’re growing our connections and we’re growing with how we can demand more from each other.”

When the two teams last met in Round 12 last season in Invercargill, the Magic defeated the Steel 53-52.

The Magic have won the past four meetings between the teams. The Magic and Steel have two previous meetings in Rotorua, the Steel won by four in 2017 and two in 2022. They have met 42 times since 2008 with the Steel winning 22 and the Magic 20.

The Magic have played eight ANZ Premiership matches in Rotorua since 2017 and their only win was the first match in Round 2, 2017 defeating the Pulse 52-50.

The Magic are coming off a 53-54 loss to the Tactix in Hamilton in Round 4. The Magic has a record of one win and a bonus point to sit in fourth place on the ladder.

The Steel are coming off a 63-61 extra time win over the Stars in Invercargill in Round 4. The Steel sit in fifth place on the ladder after round four and this ends 15 consecutive rounds the Steel have sat in last place on the ANZ Premiership ladder back to Round 1, 2023.

The Magic won their first second half quarter in 2024 when they claimed the third quarter against the Tactix 16-13 on Monday night, they also drew the fourth 13-all. The Steel are yet to win a third quarter in 2024, they have lost three and drawn one.

The Steel recorded the highest score in Round 4 with their 63-61 extra time win over the Stars in Invercargill. The match was tied at 58-all at the end of the fourth quarter which was still higher than the highest scores in the other two round four matches.

The Steel snapped their 21 match team and ANZ Premiership record losing run when they defeated the Stars 63-61 after extra time in round four. The Tactix hold the record most consecutive losses in the ANZ Championship at 21 and the New Zealand national league record losing run is 25 matches by the Flyers in the National Bank Cup (2002-2005).

The Steel v Stars Round 4 match in Invercargill was the 10th ANZ Premiership match decided after extra time. It was the Steel’s third extra time match and they have now won two and lost one, while it was the Stars fifth extra time (50% of all extra time matches in the ANZ Premiership) and they have now lost two and won three.

The Steel had only won one quarter across their opening three matches but in Round 4 against the Stars they won two (2nd & 4th) and they also won the first period of extra time.

The Magic and Steel have the two lowest attacking records in the competition; the Magic is averaging 50.3 goals per match and the Steel 49. However the Magic is the second most accurate team in the ANZ Premiership shooting their 201 goals at 87.3 per cent accuracy.

Don't miss any of the action live on Sky Sport NZ or free to air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+. For fans outside New Zealand, jump onto www.netballpass.com

2024 ANZ PREMIERSHIP - ROUND 5 

AVIS Magic v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, 4pm, Saturday May 11 at Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport and free to air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
International streaming on www.netballpass.com