The Adelaide Thunderbirds pulled out all the stops to shake off the Mainland Tactix to claim the final trans-Tasman clash of Round 8, 63-51, in Christchurch tonight.
The Thunderbirds saw a lead of 12 deep in the second quarter fritter away to three early in the final spell, as the home side rallied. But the composure of Erin Bell and the mettle of Renae Hallinan in the final throes made sure the Thunderbirds notched up their third win of the season.
Pressure applied by wing defence Hallinan guaranteed the Thunderbirds had three on the board before the Tactix opened their account at the start of the match, and soon had the difference at five goals.
Bell, too, was in sparkling form from the outset, supporting Carla Borrego at goal attack with both precision shooting and feeding. But the Tactix were determined it wouldn't all be one-way traffic, and for much of the quarter, they contested everything - with wing defence Hayley Saunders making Thunderbirds wing attack Emily Beaton toil hard.
But when the gap stretched out to seven, the Tactix called on extra height in their attack, bringing on Erikana Pedersen, sidelined in recent weeks with concussion, at wing attack. But even that did little to slow down the Thunderbirds' onslaught; the visitors leading 18-9 at the end of the opening quarter.
