Netball: Mystics show no charity to Tactix

Aucklanders showed plenty of support for quake-devastated Canterbury tonight, but there was no such charity from the Northern Mystics netballers as they beat the Canterbury Tactix 58-45 in a trans-Tasman league match in Auckland.

In a match which doubled as a fundraiser, with admission free but all donations at the gate going toward rebuilding Canterbury Netball in the wake of the deadly February earthquake, the Mystics showed no mercy with a dominant performance in front of a big crowd at the Vector Arena.

The victory sees the Auckland-based team moved back into the competition's top four - a six-win, three-loss record good enough for a share of second place with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, who have a game in hand.

Canterbury remain mired at the foot of the 10-team table following their seventh loss from eight matches.

Mystics coach Debbie Fuller was confident from the outset and opted to rest gun shooter Cathrine Latu, giving young Bailey Mes a chance to start in front of the big crowd.

Mes was solid in the first quarter but made way for Latu at the first break, Latu going on to shoot 29 from 32 and forming a typically accurate shooting combination with Maria Tutaia.

The Tactix did enough to hold on in the first half and only trailed 28-25 at the major break, but the Mystics starting converting their turnovers in the third quarter to blow the score out, winning the quarter 19-9 and sealing the result.

The southerners scrapped hard but lacked the class and precision of the Mystics. They were largely kept in the game by a top shooting display from veteran Donna Wilkins, who nailed 31 of her 33 attempts.

Her shooting circle partner, goal attack Anna Thompson, had an off night with just 12 from 19, just one of several players wearing red and black to be below her best tonight.

- NZPA