Mystics thrash Tactix to host grand final
- Dave Worsley
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
The Northern Mystics have been crowned Minor Premiers and will host the Grand Final in two weeks after delivering a comprehensive 70-56 win over Tactix in Auckland on Sunday.
The Tactix will return home to Christchurch to face Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in next Sunday’s Elimination Final with plenty to ponder after being outclassed across the board by a slick Mystics side who showed few deficiencies.
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Needing to win by six or more to have the opportunity to host the Grand Final in Christchurch, the Tactix fell well short.
Snatching the opening turnover from the Tactix first pass, the Mystics didn’t take another backward glance as they powered away, turning on the quality and leading from start to finish while leaving the southerners in their wake.
Donnell Wallam,was successful with 57 goals for the home side, one more than the oppositions total
Catherine Hall was also to the fore for the Mystics from the get go responsible for five gains at the defensive end where at the other end, Wallam was equally influential under the hoop.
Struggling to contain the 1.93m height of Wallam, the Tactix defensive pairing of Karin Burger and Jane Watson came into their own late in the game but it was too late..
The Mystics finished an entertaining and high-scoring first quarter with their noses in front when leading 18-14.
In the second quarter, the defensive pressure applied by Tayla Earle, Katie Te Ao, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Hall suffocating the Tactix options while forcing panicky play.
That provided front-foot ball for the Mystics attackers, with Peta Toeava coming into her own after being well-contained in the first quarter, resulting in the tall figure of Wallam looming large and reigning supreme under the hoop.
With the Mystics going on a 12-4 run, the Tactix hand was forced with a tactical timeout called by the visitors and subsequent changes with shooter Martina Salmon and midcourter Parris Petera being injected.
Trailing by 12 at one stage, the Tactix responded, taking small steps into the deficit but still had work to do when staring down a 37-29 advantage to the Mystics at the main break.
Anchored by their rocks at either end of the court, the Mystics extended their dominance during a withering third stanza.
Flush with options, the introduction of Holly Rae at goal defence didn’t nothing to detract from the Mystics mastery across all facets of play. The Tactix had few answers to breaching the home side’s water-tight defensive unit while also being powerless against the rock-solid Wallam and the Australian import’s impact under the hoop.
While she missed a few shots, Wallam invariably got the rebound as the Mystics stretched their advantage to double digits. Needing super shots to get back into the contest, the Tactix couldn’t find any reward from double-point range trailing 54-39 at the last turn
