Tactix triumph: Late surge secures stunning victory over Mystics

The Tactix from Christchurch have claimed a decisive 61-50 victory against the unbeaten Northern Mystics from Auckland in front of a packed crowd in Rangiora.

Saturday's win ended the defending champions' winning streak in this season's ANZ Premiership Netball competition. The Tactix put on a remarkable performance, with their 1.96-metre shooting tower Ellie Bird shining in a flawless outing - a perfect 50 from 50 under the hoop.

Bird received tremendous support from her midcourt team-mates Erikana Pedersen and Holly Mather, who helped keep the hosts' attack flowing. On defence, Jane Watson and Karin Burger made it tough for the Mystics to score with the duo's relentless pressure.

In other Round Four results, the Pulse proved too strong for the Steel, winning 70-45 in Invercargill on Sunday, while the Magic secured their first win of the season, beating the Stars 72-51 in Hamilton on Monday night.

Coming into the match, the Magic, sitting at the bottom of the table, belied their lowly position against the team sitting just above them with a dominant outing on attack.

Finding speed and accuracy going forward, the Magic had an inspiring figure at goal shooter in the form of Saviour Tui. She had a memorable 60 minutes while showcasing her considerable skillset and nailing 54 from 57 shots on goal.

The Tactix win takes them to the top of the standings, knocking the defending champions into second place. The Mystics, who were in the battle for most of the match, struggled to find their rhythm in attack, especially without their injured key player and Australian import, Donnell Wallam, under the hoop.

Going into the final quarter with a four-goal lead, the Tactix maintained their composure and effectively controlled the game, which deflated the Mystics' chances.

The hosts' highlight was a long-range shot by Te Paea Selby-Rickit, which helped stake their dominance, even though the Mystics' Filda Vui managed to score six long-range shots.

Mystics' Filda Vui shoots during their match against the Tactix in Rangiora on Saturday. Photo/John Davidson/Photosport

Both teams had a shaky start, with their defences creating opportunities to regain possession. Selby-Rickit set up plays to give Bird scoring chances, while the Mystics needed more time to adjust to their new lineup.

Vui hit a crucial long-range early on, bringing the Mystics back to even terms before they narrowly led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter

When the game resumed, the Tactix increased their defensive efforts, with Burger and Watson doing a great job limiting the Mystics' chances near the goal. Mather, playing at centre, not only fed her shooters well, but she also contributed defensively.

As the Tactix started asserting dominance, they stretched their lead to six goals. The Mystics made some changes, bringing Sophia Lafaiali’i and captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson from the bench to boost the Aucklanders' attack.

But Bird continued to score effectively for the Tactix, while Vui and Lafaiali’i narrowed the gap to 30-28 at halftime.

The Tactix started the second half strong, scoring five unanswered points and pulling ahead by seven. Watson, Burger, and wing defence Paris Lokotui continued to pressure the Mystics, forcing them into errors.

The Mystics tried to regain control by bringing on Charlotte Manley as goalkeeper, and their star midcourter Peta Toeava sparked a late surge.

Another long-range shot from Vui helped bring the Mystics back into the game, but the Tactix kept feeding Bird with the ball. By the end of the third quarter, Bird had scored an impressive 37 out of 37 shots, and the Tactix maintained a 43-39 lead going into the final quarter.

Looking ahead, the Steel will host the Tactix in a southern derby in Invercargill next Saturday, while the Mystics will travel to Wellington to face the Pulse on Sunday, and the Stars take on the Magic in Auckland following Monday.

This story has been updated to include Monday night's Magic and Stars results.