Tactix hold firm to sink Magic in hard-fought Christchurch clash

The Mainland Tactix have weathered a Waikato storm, defeating the Bay of Plenty Magic 68-57 in a strong performance in Christchurch on Monday night.

With nearly 3000 in attendance at the Wolfbrook Arena, the Canterburians continued their unbeaten run on home turf in their round nine netball match of the ANZ Premiership.

The hosts showcased their impressive teamwork in both attack and defence. Midcourter Erikana Pedersen sure crossed her Ts by hitting the circle edge, running hard lines and slicing the Magic defenders with her excellent vision.

Picking up a huge volume of feeds and centre pass receives, Pedersen commended the Magic’s effort to capitalise on the home side’s third-quarter slump.

“We knew they would come out, especially in that second half as well as after the second quarter that we had, and unfortunately tonight we didn’t I guess rise up to the same energy that they provided,” she says.

Although a valiant effort to take the third quarter 20-14, it was not enough to wear down the through-court connections of the Tactix.

The end-to-end plays from the home side were poetry in motion, with several long feeds from the transverse line into Goal Shooter Eleanor Bird flowing with ease.

Yet the team from the Big Smoke refused to lay down, showing glimpses of brilliance through their shooting combination of Silver Fern captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Saviour Tui.

Ekenasio slotted a spectacular six out of eight two-point super shots, including one right on the third-quarter buzzer, earning her a friendly hug from Silver Fern teammate Jane Watson.

The Tactix’s round nine success secures them a home elimination final, an achievement that Pedersen honours fans for.

“It was a goal of ours from the beginning of the season, our fans have been so loyal throughout these years we’ve never won a championship. So to have them here, they’ve been so loud, and they’ve supported us this season. So yeah, I’m really stoked,” she says.

Fans can look forward to a top-of-the-table showdown to conclude the regular season as the Tactix head back up to Auckland to face an energised Northern Mystics side on Sunday.

The Magic will open round 10 at home, hosting the Central Pulse on Saturday at Mercury Baypark Arena in Tauranga. Meanwhile, the Southern Steel return to a home crowd in Invercargill to face the Stars, looking for a one-up on an 09 team after last weekend’s shortfall.