Tactix keep Magic winless in netball Premiership
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Tactix celebrated their first visit to the new Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre with a decisive 58-37 win over Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Christchurch.
The result stretched the Tactix home winning streak to 10 straight matches while cementing their place at the top of the table. It also kept the hapless Magic winless and anchored at the other end of the table.
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In control in all four quarters during which they continued to extend their advantage, the Tactix imposed their presence across all facets. Never buttoning off, the home side were able to give all 10 players court time against a Magic side who had few answers.
In the story of their season, the Magic had their moments on defence, where Georgie Edgecombe was a key contributor with a game-high six intercepts, the visitors, however, failing to make the most of their numerous opportunities with poor finishing touches, and consequently punished by a highly-motivated Tactix.
On the back of her standout performance the previous week, shooter Hannah Glen was rewarded with her second straight start while former Silver Ferns captain Gina Crampton, a recent temporary injury replacement for captain Erikana Pedersen, started from the bench.
Young shooting duo, Kate Taylor and Sarah Guiney, got the starts at the scoring end of the Magic court while Edgecombe was retained at centre with Brooklyn Murray starting at wing defence.
Both sides were guilty of early turnovers, the Tactix making the best use of their opportunities to build a narrow buffer before improved second phase play helped the Magic stay within touching distance.
The dazzling play of Tactix goal attack Amorangi Malesala and the defensive work of Fa’amu Muliaga (nee Ioane), Laura Balmer and Ash Barnett helped the home side finish with a flourish to push out to a 16-11 lead at the first break.
Guiney and Taylor supported by Edgecombe, on attack and defensively, helped the Magic stay in the contest as the visitors made a strong start on the resumption. Showing more control on attack, the Magic remained well in contention until the home side clicked up a gear.
Charlie Bell was injected into the goal shoot role for the Tactix while at the other end, Barnett was in the thick of action, showcasing her speed, ability to disrupt and instinct for an intercept, all coinciding to hand momentum to the red-and-blacks.
Five straight goals to the home side forced changes in the Magic line-up with shooter Saviour Tui making her comeback from injury and Losa Fifita (goal defence) being introduced. It had little effect as the Tactix tightened the screws, revelling in their freedom through court as they bounded out to a 10-goal lead.
Centre Holly Mather was an impressive figure at both ends of the court for the Tactix, who threatened to run away with the game before a Tui two-pointer on the buzzer reduced the margin slightly, the home side hitting the main break with a handy 28-20 lead.
Making her return to the ANZ Premiership after an absence of three years, midcourter Crampton slotted in seamlessly in the third quarter, adding another layer of substance to the Tactix attack line. The Magic reshuffled their midcourt with Ariana Cable-Dixon coming off the bench and Edgecombe reverting to wing defence.
Scoring the first two goals gave the Magic a glimmer of hope but that’s about as good as it got for the visitors who struggled to contain a rampant Tactix. The home side were a class above on attack while also producing a suffocating defensive presence.
There was no let-up from the Tactix, who squeezed any left-over resistance from the Magic and subsequently reduced them to a single digit third quarter. Relying on two-pointers to stay in the contest proved fruitless for the Magic as the Tactix rolled into a handsome 42-28 lead at the last turn.
