Table-Topping Win For Tactix

Storming home in the final quarter, VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix delivered an emphatic 61-50 win over the previously unbeaten Northen Mystics in front of a sell-out crowd in Rangiora on Saturday.

The Tactix excelled across all areas of the court with 1.96m shooter Ellie Bird a dominant force after returning a perfect 50 from 50 under the hoop.

She was given quality support from the midcourt duo of Erikana Pedersen and Holly Mather who provided the flow and attacking accuracy, while the defensive end, particularly the in-circle pairing of Jane Watson and Karin Burger were at their menacing and relentless best through a suffocating and tireless presence.

The result elevated the Tactix to the top of the table, dethroning the defending champions who, despite being in the race for three-quarters of the match, struggled to gel at the attacking end after being without injured strike weapon Donnell Wallam under the hoop.

Coming into the final quarter with a four-goal lead, the Tactix made no race of it down the home straight, composure, efficiency with ball in hand and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over taking the wind out of the Mystics sails.

A Te Paea Selby-Rickit super shot, the Tactix only success from range during the match, putting a definitive stake in ground of the home side’s dominance. While opposing shooter Filda Vui was successful with six super shots, the Mystics were outplayed on the day.

It was a mixed start from each side with both sets of defences playing prominent roles in providing turnover opportunities before the Tactix got their noses in front.

Playmaking goal attack Selby-Rickit provided clever passing options in getting the ball into Bird’s hand for the Tactix while the Mystics required more patience in settling into a new attacking front line.

Long-range shooting specialist Vui nailed a crucial super shot to haul the Mystics back to level teams before nudging in front and taking a slim 13-12 into the first break.

The home lifted their defensive intensity a notch or two on the resumption with experienced duo Burger and Watson restricting the Mystics ball into the shooters. They were well-supported by centre Mather, who delivered a handy flow of pin-point long -range feeds into Bird while also popping up effectively on defence.

The tactics eventually broke the shackles with the homes side pushing out to a six-goal lead. Marvels National Netball League player Sophia Lafaiali’I was injected for the Mystics at goal shoot with six minutes to go while captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson followed from the bench shortly after.

With no need to take super shots, Bird continued to play a strong hand under the Tactix hoop, but Vui and Lafaiali’i helped the side reduce the deficit with one apiece to bring the Mystics right back into the frame, the home side taking a 30-28 lead into the main break.

The Tactix made the best of starts to open the third stanza scoring with a quickfire five goals without response to build a handy seven-goal buffer while the relentless Watson and Burger combination, assisted by gritty wing defence Paris Lokotui, suffocated the Mystics while drawing errors on attack.

Adding extra height, Charlotte Manley was injected at goalkeeper for the visitors, who made some amends in a spirited surge late in the quarter with non-stop midcourter Peta Toeava in the thick of the Mystics progress on attack.

Another Vui super shot drew the Mystics back into contention but with the Tactix able to keep their supply into Bird – who nailed an impressive 37 from 37 during the first three-quarters – it was the home side who kept their noses in front when leading 43-39 at the last turn.

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