KEY POINTS:
Canterbury Tactix suffered their second consecutive loss in the trans-Tasman netball championship when they were beaten 58-50 by Melbourne Vixens in Christchurch tonight.
The Vixens, powered by Australian international Sharelle McMahon proved too slick in attack as they bounced back from their own 38-39 defeat by the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the previous round.
They now have three wins and loss while the Tactix have two wins and two losses after four rounds.
McMahon was a thorn in the side of the Tactix defence and her combination with centre Natasha Chokljat and wing attack Renae Hallinan provided goalshoot Caitlin Thwaites with an ample supply of ball.
Victoria Smith and Bessie Manu were unable to stop the flow of ball and Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud was forced to bring on Demelza Fellowes for Manu at goal defence in the second half but that did not work too.
Compared to the Tactix' 54 attempts in the game, the Vixens enjoyed the lion's share with 73.
Thwaites and McMahon did not shoot particularly well but they out-rebounded Smith and Manu to get second bites of the cherry each time.
The Tactix had got off to a good start to take a two-goal lead early in the game but a wild pass by wing attack Maree Bowden that turned the ball over in the 7th minute gave the Vixens that opening they needed to turn the game around.
From 8-8, the Melbourne side swept to a 16-13 first quarter lead as the Tactix either turned ball over or squandered turnover chances.
In the circle, Jodi Brown and Ann Thompson appeared reluctant to make the shot and in trying to get closer, often lost the ball with the extra pass.
The Tactix started brightly in the third quarter to cut the deficit to four at 33-37 but goalkeep Bianca Chatfield and goal defender Johannah Curran tightened things up to keep Tactix from closing the margin down.
Wasted turnovers hurt the Tactix badly and although they outscored their opponents 15-14 in the third quarter, they still had a six-goal margin to bridge in the final quarter.
The Tactix had a sniff of pulling off an unlikely win when they closed to within five early in the final quarter but a Bowden intercept once again was wasted by a loose pass and the Vixens coasted home.
- NZPA
