By Ashlee Tulloch
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic have pulled up their socks in the past few weeks, after losing their first four games, they've now gone on a four game winning streak.
It seems new socks may have been a contributing factor to their change in performance.
Some Magic defenders swapped hard court for lino to promote their new hosiery sponsor.
Magic goal keeper Leana de Bruin was at a supermarket promoting the socks.
“Yeah you can never have too many pairs of socks - and like you say we're training all the time and changing socks, so yeah… Very handy.”
After collecting four wins in a row, the Magic have moved off the bottom of the ladder and now sit mid-table in fifth.
Goal defence Casey Williams is pleased with the team’s recent performance.
“It's definitely a different feeling you know our first four weekends went really slow, and it was hard, and the last four have gone really quickly, and it goes to show with winning and losing and I think for us it's a huge confidence boost for us.”
The team has a bye this week, but that doesn't mean they're putting the netball down.
“At the moment I think the bodies need a break but we've still been working hard - this week we've just been topping up our fitness levels, not really a rest,” de Bruin says.
And all eyes are on making the finals series for the fifth time in a row.
“I’m trying not to think about the outcome, I’m taking it week by week, but also knowing that that's the ultimate goal, and for me I believe in our team and I believe that we do work so hard and we deserve to be there,” Williams says.
They've been gifted a good run to the finish – four of the last five games are at home.
“Obviously getting to the tough time of the competition and everyone’s pushing for sports,” de Bruin says. I definitely think the home crowd will have an advantage for us.”
The one away game is against the Mystics, and while the Magic refused to discuss the Harrison hoist on camera - they say they've got it under control.
Despite her ankle not being 100 percent Williams has no intention of bench warming.
“It's quite relaxing sitting on the bench but I got told off a lot by Erana and Jess Waitapu, because I didn't know how to work the bench, you know the paper towels here the drink bottles here, do this, do that, and I was like ‘I don’t know what to do’.”
So as long as she's got a ball in hand, she'll know what to do.
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