Netball: Smart Swifts outlast Tactix

The Swifts dominated possession and the turnover count to put up 20 more shots. Photo / Getty Images

A morale boosting win remains elusive for the Canterbury Tactix after their fractured trans-Tasman netball championship season struck another snag in Sydney last night as the NSW Swifts closed out a comfortable 54-45 victory.

Playing just their third game of the season - and second since Christchurch was devastated by an earthquake on February 22 - the Tactix were unable to capitalise on a superior shooting performance by Donna Wilkins and Ellen Halpenny.

ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Former double international Wilkins was exceptional under the hoop - missing just one of her 26 attempts - while goal shoot Halpenny also outshone Australian veteran Catherine Cox despite having problems combating lanky English defender Sonia Mkoloma.

However, crucially the Swifts dominated possession and the turnover count to put up 20 more shots over the course of a fifth round contest the hosts led at every break.

One of the pre-season favourites, the Swifts threatened to punish last season's bottom-placed franchise when building a nine-goal lead midway through the third quarter but the Tactix refused to buckle and reeled off the final five goals of the term to briefly raise hopes of an upset unfolding.

Wilkins landed 12 from 12 in the penultimate quarter as she finally made inroads against marker Rebecca Bulley.

Bulley, Mkoloma and the abrasive Mo'onia Gerrard effectively quelled the Tactix challenge in the second quarter when Wilkins was limited to just five attempts as the Swifts trio ruled the defensive end.

Buoyed by pushing the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic to overtime in their last outing, the Tactix were unable to reproduce that form against a Swifts side that remain in fifth spot with a three-win, two loss record.

The efforts of Wilkins and Halpenny (20/24) were also diminished by the concession of an unacceptable 27 turnovers to the Swifts 14 -- the officials were also harsh on the visitors, penalising the Tactix 56 times to the Swifts 29.

With greater possession and superior discipline the Swifts led by four at the end of the first quarter; 27-21 at the main break and maintained that buffer heading into the run home.

Cox had another fluctuating match at goal shoot, missing 11 shots though she still improved on her poor 58 per cent accuracy rate against the West Coast Fever last weekend.

Susan Pratley was again the Swifts most reliable source of goals, the Australian international made 18 from 22 before being subbed late in the third quarter to give Amy Wild her first court time of the campaign.

She responded to the challenge, recovering from a glaring miss with her first attempt to hit the target with her next nine.

Swifts coach Julie Fitzgerald and counterpart Helen McMahon-Stroud both tinkered with their midcourt at halftime - Kim Green switched from wing attack to centre at the expense of Courtney Tairi while Tactix captain Maree Bowden made an identical move as starting centre Phillipa Finch made way for Silver Fern Anna Thompson.

Bowden was particularly effective when at wing attack and was responsible for providing some instinctive feeds to Wilkins.

The Tactix next play the Central Pulse - New Zealand's other winless franchise - in Palmerston North on Sunday; the Swifts host the competition-leading Queensland Firebirds later that day.

- NZPA