Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic jumped to the top of the trans-Tasman netball league after two rounds with a comprehensive 50-36 win over Northern Mystics in Auckland on Monday.
Despite their star-studded line-up, the Mystics failed to fire for the second week, and now have conceded 108 goals while scoring just 70.
They looked truly woeful in the first half: hesitant on attack, ineffective on defence and worryingly inaccurate in the shooting circle.
Shooters Maria Tutaia and Cathrine Latu struggled to shake free Silver Ferns teammates Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin, who shut down space in the circle and pressured every shot.
Latu managed 11 shots over the opening two quarters, sinking eight, before she was replaced by Bailey Mes (15/24) while Tutaia could only manage 13 from 22 from the whole game.
The Mystics trailed 13-7 at the first break, and 23-16 at halftime. Their shooting woes were exacerbated by a midcourt which struggled to supply quality ball into the circle, with former Magic centre Laura Langman looking strangely hesitant.
A double switch early in the third quarter, with the Mystics trailing 18-32, gave them some brief momentum. Mes added height and speed in the circle in replacing Latu, while youngster Temalisi Fakahokotau looked promising after taking over the goalkeeper's bib from Jess Tuki.
The Mystics reduced the Magic's lead to 34-26 at the three-quarter mark, but the visitors remained calm.
Their well-drilled mid-courters Grace Rasmussen and Courtney Tairi continued to mix a varied and pacy attack with intelligent feeding into shooters Jo Harten and Ellen Halpenny.
England international Harten, who missed just one shot from her 31 attempts, was happy to rack up back-to-back wins, especially after the Mystics' mid-game rally.
"Maybe we got a bit complacent - we got a lead, but let them back into it. Tactically it was OK, but we can still push on," she said.
Mystics captain Tutaia admitted her team had plenty of ground to make up.
"It's just not good enough at this level. Collectively, all of us need to look within ourselves, particularly myself. As a whole we didn't connect on attack ... we need to harden up."
