In a tense finish, the Northern Mystics held on for a 40-38 win over the Magic in Auckland on Monday night.

Shooter Saviour Tui starred for the visitors in the dying minutes, hitting three crucial goals that brought the Magic close to winning.

Despite their late surge, the Magic couldn't quite catch up. But they did earn a bonus point for losing by less than five goals, keeping their hopes alive for a top-three spot in the standings.

Both teams made some mistakes throughout the game, but the Mystics stayed in control with strong efforts.

Rising goalkeeper Catherine Hall led the Mystics' defence with impressive stats, including rebounds, interceptions, and deflections. The tough defence pressured the Magic, causing them to struggle and make more errors as the game progressed.

The Mystics got off to a quick start, scoring the game's first six goals. After a slow beginning, the Magic called for a timeout to regroup, which helped them score their first goal after five and a half minutes.

But they continued to face challenges from the Mystics' defence, especially Hall and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, who effectively shut down the Magic's main shooters, Tui and Ameliaranne Ekenasio. By the end of the first quarter, the Mystics led 12-8.

In the second quarter, both teams struggled to score, leading to fewer points and several turnovers. The Magic closed the gap to two goals at times but often faltered with careless mistakes.

A timely double-pointer from Mystics' specialist Filda Vui helped the hosts to a 21-17 lead at halftime, which was the lowest score of the season.

The scoring continued to be tough in the third quarter. While the Mystics missed some chances, they managed to stay ahead. Late in the game, Vui hit two back-to-back super shots, allowing the Mystics to extend their lead to 32-25 as they headed into the final quarter.

Tactix march on with statement win over Pulse

In another match of Round Six of the ANZ Premiership, the Tactix showcased their skills with a commanding 61-50 victory over the Pulse in Christchurch on Sunday.

The Tactix overcame a strong start from the Pulse and took control of the game midway through the first quarter, maintaining their lead for the rest of the match. The shooting duo of Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Martina Salmon were impressive, working well together to keep the scoreboard in their favour.

The Tactix executed smart plays in the midcourt and were tough defensively, making it hard for the Pulse to find their rhythm. Despite the Pulse's attempts to adjust their tactics, they struggled to keep up with a focused Tactix team.

The Tactix attempted 19 more shots at the goal, leading to better possession and ultimately the win. Amelia Walmsley stood out, successfully making all 44 of her shot attempts.

The first quarter saw the Pulse at their best, starting strong, but the Tactix quickly found their form to stay in the contest. They took a slim lead of 15-14 at the first break.

Goal attack Selby-Rickit excelled, linking well with Salmon and outperforming their Pulse defenders. Defender Jane Watson made key turnovers to push the Tactix ahead while limiting the Pulse’s scoring opportunities. Although shooter Walmsley scored perfectly, the Pulse needed more chances to make a bigger impact.

The Tactix maintained their efficiency, with Salmon capping off the first half with a buzzer-beater supershot, extending their lead to 35-26 at halftime.

In the intense third quarter, the Tactix continued to perform better than the Pulse, disrupting their fast play with adequate defence.

While the Pulse switched up their defence, with Kelly Jackson creating some turnovers and pressuring the Tactix, supported by Fa’amu Ioane and Gabi Simpson.

In the third quarter, Erikana Pedersen and Holly Mather ensured Selby-Rickit and Salmon had plenty of scoring opportunities.

Erikana Pedersen, of the Tactix, during their ANZ Premiership Netball match against the Pulse, at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch, on 15 June 2025. Photo/John Davidson/Photosport.nz

Polished Steel take the shine out of Stars

In an earlier match, the Southern Steel defeated the Stars 62-46 in Auckland.

Shooter Aliyah Dunn had an impressive game, scoring 45 out of 46 attempts, while defender Carys Stythe also contributed with several interceptions and six deflections.

The Steel handled pressure throughout the match, while the injury-hit Stars struggled to find rhythm. The Stars had some bright moments but couldn't maintain their performance.

Julia Wynands also made a promising debut as a defender, and shooter Charlie Bell scored 31 from 32 attempts, showing great talent under pressure.

In the match, both teams changed their starting lineups, with the Stars fielding last week’s shooters, captain Maia Wilson and Monica Falkner, alongside a new defensive pair of Kayla Johnson and Lili Tokaduadua.

The Steel welcomed back midcourter Kate Heffernan from injury while Kimiora Poi played wing attack.

The first quarter was very competitive, with the Steel gaining the upper hand towards the end after the Stars made some errors. Strong shooting from Dunn and Georgia Heffernan enabled the Steel to lead 15-11 by the time the first quarter ended.

After the break, the Stars started slow but quickly returned to the game, scoring seven goals. This prompted the Steel to take a timeout to regroup. The Stars then settled in and began to play better, with Mila Reuelu-Buchanan providing quick passes in the first half at 29-23.

In the third quarter, the Stars showed determination and worked hard to close the gap. They reduced the score to just three goals behind, but then faced issues with turnovers, which allowed the Steel to maintain their distance.

Dunn and Stythe were key players, contributing significantly to the Steel's performance and helping them build a solid 47-35 lead as they headed into the final quarter.