Tactix hold nerve in thriller to extend home streak against the Stars

The VIP Frames & Trusses Tactix held their nerve in a tense 52-50 win over the Northern Stars on Sunday night, extending their unbeaten home run to nine straight wins.

In front of a loud Wolfbrook Arena crowd in Christchurch, there was nothing between the sides for most of 60 minutes with neither team able to pull away on the scoreboard.

It was a true arm wrestle from start to finish. The Tactix showing just enough composure in the final stages to seal a hard-fought win.

One of their standout stories was goal shoot Hannah Glenn, who made the most of her first start of the season. Behind regular starter Charlie Bell, Glenn delivered under pressure in the shooting circle.

She finished with 34 from 38 attempts, showing calm in a match where every chance mattered.

Midcourters Holly Mather and Taiana Day played key roles in feeding the circle, consistently finding Glenn in strong positions and helping the Tactix maintain control through key passages of play.

Wing attack Taiana Day of the Tactix. Photo/John Davidson/Photosport

Making her first start of the season, Glenn was named fan favourite and told TVNZ she was “stoked to come away with the win… and get out there and show them what I’m made of.”

Shooting at 89 per cent accuracy, Glenn’s focus in the closing stages was simple: “keep possession.”

Equally impressive was shooting partner Amorangi Malesala, who had to work hard on attack against the physical defensive pairing of Stars defenders Aimee Landrigan and Kate Burley.

Temepara Bailey Head Coach of the Northern Stars. Photo/John Davidson/Photosport

“If you look at their team, Aimee has that Aussie style of play. So I knew she was going to be sticking to me like glue and she did her job very well… and my job was to try not get caught in the contest at times,” Malesala told TVNZ.

The one-on-one defence was fierce across the court, with midcourters dragged into tough contests and punished whenever the timing of their lines were off.

The Tactix also held the edge in the penalty count, with the Stars conceding 71 penalties to the home side’s 50.

The hard-fought win lifts the Tactix into second place after round five.

They now prepare to host the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic next Saturday at Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre in Christchurch, with centre pass at 4pm (NZT).

In other round five results, the Mystics defeated the Pulse 55-47 at Te Rauparaha Arena to secure back-to-back wins, with centre Tayla Earle bringing up 100 games for the club.

The Mystics will now prepare to host the Northern Stars in the second Battle of the Bridge clash of the season at Trusts Arena on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the Southern Steel continued their strong run of form with a commanding 61-48 win over the Magic. They will face the Pulse on Sunday at TSB Arena, with centre pass at 4pm.

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