Netball: Tactix seal turnaround win

Donna Wilkins, pictured, and Anna Thompson shot at 91 percent. Photo / Getty Images

A third-quarter turnaround of monumental proportions saw the Canterbury Tactix secure their first trans-Tasman netball league victory of the season 49-44 over Southern Steel in Christchurch last night.

At home for the first time since last month's devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake, the Tactix took the third spell 17-5 then held on in a hectic final 15 minutes to shut out the win.

Superb through-court defence, and some excellent shooting laid the base for the win, while young goal defence Joanna Trip's combination with rejuvenated Jamaican goal keeper Kasey Evering was pivotal.

In the end, the Tactix's shooting accuracy - Donna Wilkins and Anna Thompson shot at 91 percent to the Steel's 83 percent - proved the difference.

The Tactix had started well, with Thompson sinking a sweet long shot to kick off in style.

But the Steel replied in kind, forced a turnover on the next Tactix pass and powered out to a four-goal lead after barely three minutes.

Shooters Daneka Wipiiti and Paula Griffin worked the circle well, aided in no small part by strong driving play and pinpoint feeding from Steel midcourters Natasha Chokljat and Liana Leota.

At the other end of the court, Steel defenders Leana de Bruin and Te Huinga Selby-Rickit were making life difficult for the Tactix shooters.

Double-teaming the vastly experienced Donna Wilkins, they forced Thompson into shouldering the bulk of the shooting duties.

The former Silver Fern responded well, sinking six from seven for the quarter as the Tactix shot a 91 percent for the quarter to the Steel's 65 percent.

However, the visitors went into the first break looking assured with a 15-10 lead.

The consistent southerners delivered more of the same in the second quarter, although a late five-goal run from the Tactix brought them to within two in the closing minutes of the spell.

They looked more assured in working the ball at pace through the midcourt, Thompson and Wilkins responding

with some sweet shooting in missing only two shots in the opening 30 minutes.

However, the Steel regrouped and went into the break with a 26-21 lead.

Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud brought on Trip at goal defence in the third quarter, looking to put more pressure on Griffin who had shot 10 from 10 in the second quarter to Wipiiti's one from just two attempts.

Evering continued to put huge pressure on Wipiiti, who struggled to find space and time to put up the shots: she managed one from two in the third stanza, and two from two in the fourth.

Perhaps with an eye on Sunday's game against the Melbourne Vixens, Steel coach Robyn Broughton tweaked her midcourt - Wendy Frew came on at centre, Leota came off and Chokljat went to wing attack - the Steel lost all fluidity, and the Tactix pounced.

Relishing the vocal support of a sell-out home, they went on a 10-goal spree, forcing turnovers and finishing clinically to go into the final break with an unlikely 38-31 lead.

The Steel fought back, shading the final quarter 13-11, but the Tactix held on for a well-deserved win.

- NZPA