Netball: Northern Mystics take down Mainland Tactix in ANZ Premiership

Grace Nweke put in a strong shooting display for the Mystics. Photo / Photosport

Mystics 47
Tactix 42

The Northern Mystics have overcome a sloppy start to take down the Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Premiership tonight.

Down 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and 23-19 near the end of the first half, a Grace Nweke-inspired run saw the Mystics draw level by halftime, and they never trailed from there.

The match-ending run came early in the fourth quarter, with the score at 35-34, as the Mystics went on a 6-0 run to pull away. While the Tactix responded with a 3-0 run of their own to get back within four goals, they didn't come any closer as the Mystics pulled out a 47-42 victory.

Nweke finished with an excellent 95 per cent clip (38/40), with both teams attempting 53 shots but the Mystics shooters being more clinical, and their defenders being penalised less - especially for obstruction.

The win was a bounce-back for the Mystics after their winning streak to start the season was snapped by the unbeaten defending champion Central Pulse side on Monday. The Mystics move to 4-1, to move back atop the table ahead of the 3-0 Pulse, who play the Southern Steel tomorrow afternoon and the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on Sunday in a tough back-to-back.

The other four sides all have records below .500, with the Tactix remaining in third with a 2-3 mark, though all three teams below the Mainland franchise have games in hand.