Netball: Support southern sisters, say Mystics

Northern Mystics management believes tonight's fundraising match against the Canterbury Tactix at Vector Arena is a good test to see if the central Auckland venue is a viable option for future transtasman league games.

The all-New Zealand match-up kicks off the round nine action in the ANZ Championship. The teams were originally scheduled to meet in round three, but the game was postponed to allow the Tactix time to regroup after the Christchurch earthquake.

Officials have worked hard to fit the match in to an already condensed season, solving the problem by making the match double as a charity event.

Vector Arena has offered the venue free, allowing organisers to waive the admission fee, although they will be asking for donations on the door. All proceeds will go towards rebuilding Canterbury Netball.

Northern Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron said the success of tonight's event could decide whether the franchise considers taking big games to the venue, which can seat 9000 spectators.

"It's a good way of testing the water to see if Vector Arena is a realistic option for us for hosting games. It'll be an interesting case study to see if the CBD crowd will support a weeknight game there," said Cameron.

"If we don't get a good crowd out of this, then you'd have to wonder whether we would in the general course of things."

But Cameron said the main purpose of tonight's game was to show support for Canterbury and the Mystics urged fans to come out in numbers.

Several Mystics stars, including Silver Ferns Maria Tutaia and Grace Rasmussen, have been out pounding the pavement over the last two days delivering promotional fliers in the CBD and Cameron is hoping for a big walk-up crowd from city workers.

"This is a great opportunity to see some top-class netball in a top-class venue," said Cameron.

The match will be the third game in seven days for the struggling Tactix, and they will have to be up again on Saturday for their rematch against the Southern Steel in Invercargill.

The Tactix picked up their first win of the season against the Steel last Thursday in what was an emotional return to their home court at the CBS Canterbury Arena.

They'll be determined to put on another good show tonight. But Mystics aren't short on motivation as they chase their first play-offs appearance in four seasons of the league.

The unbeaten Firebirds and second-placed Magic look secure in the top four, so the Mystics are one of four teams chasing only two play-offs spots.

Round nine looms as a difficult stretch for the Auckland side, at fifth in the standings.

They need to knock over the Tactix tonight and back that up with a strong showing across the Tasman, where they will have to bury their hoodoo on Australian soil against the Fever to stay in finals contention.

Good cause

ANZ Championship - rescheduled round 3 match-up.

* Canterbury Tactix v Northern Mystics.
* Tonight, 7.40.
* Vector Arena.
* Entry by donation - all proceeds go to Canterbury Netball.
* Doors open at 6.30pm.