Tactix 44
Pulse 39
Mystics 70
Stars 52
Steel 75
Magic 58
In the final Super Sunday of the ANZ Premiership season, it was the Mainland Tactix that caused the biggest upset.
Tipping off the afternoon with a bang, the Tactix stunned the top-of-the-table Central Pulse 44-39 at Takanini's Pulman Arena.
After suffering narrow back-to-back losses, the Tactix were desperate to make a resounding comeback over the Premiership's leading team, while further securing their spot in next month's playoffs.
Despite a hesitant start, the Tactix took control of the match in the opening quarter to rattle a usually calm and collected Pulse side.
The tenacious Temalisi Fakahokotau was in sublime form as the Silver Fern led her defensive unit from the front. Snatching vital intercepts while honing the pressure on a young Pulse shooting duo, Fakahokotau's efforts saw the Tactix surge ahead to claim a slender lead.
Desperate to make back lost ground, Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie called Silver Ferns shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio onto the court which briefly saw the second quarter settle into a low-scoring, goal-to-goal affair.
A sudden lapse during the third quarter put a Tactix victory in doubt as Pulse captain Katrina Grant and defender Sulu Fitzpatrick caused problems for the Mainland midcourt. Unable to feed the ball to their shooters efficiently, the Tactix's momentum suffered as the clash levelled up at 32 apiece.
However, in a pivotal final quarter, the Tactix rediscovered their winning touch to surge ahead and finally topple the league leaders.
The Northern Mystics then secured their spot as the top Auckland franchise claiming the inaugural Northern Challenge Trophy in the second fixture of the day.
The Mystics defeated the Northern Stars 70-52 in the second clash of Super Sunday to rob their Auckland rivals of a home stadium win and keep their chances of a spot in the finals alive.
In a tightly contested opening quarter, the Mystics briefly struggled to stay on top of the Stars as the home side snatched a narrow lead. But with the experienced addition of Maria Folau and captain Anna Harrison on the court for the remainder of the match, the Mystics suddenly surged ahead.
Led by upcoming wing attack Elisapeta Toeava, the Mystics found an unstoppable attacking momentum which saw seamless connection made between the midcourt and the Mystics' shooters from the circle edge.
Meanwhile, Harrison led her defence force alongside Phoenix Karaka to keep the usually accurate Stars shooting duo of Maia Wilson and Paula Griffin in doubt under the hoop. Capitalising on the home side's missed opportunities to convert, the Mystics extended their lead.
The Mystics went from strength to strength while Stars captain Grace Kara looked desperate for her side to pick up their pace in the final stanza of the local derby. But as the Stars fell into a disastrous pattern of sloppy and inconsistent play, the Mystics took control of possession to dominate on the scoreboard.
Closing Super Sunday in style, the Southern Steel claimed a 75-58 victory over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
The defending champions were in sublime form, led by their passionate captain Wendy Frew. Meanwhile, the Magic's disappointing injury count continued to take its toll on the Waikato side with the lack of experienced players across the court making for moments of hesitancy and inconsistency.
Young Steel shooter Jen O'Connell was unusually hesitant in the opening quarter despite facing a raw and relatively inexperienced Magic defence unit.
Magic shooters Lenize Potgieter and Monica Falkner were in threatening form as the shooting duo successfully converted on almost every oppurtunity they were given. However, a lack of opportunities to score let the Magic down as the Steel surged ahead to claim an eight-goal halftime advantage.
The Steel quickly capitalised on their lead in the third period of the match as Frew led her defenders from the front. Stand-in Magic captain Samantha Sinclair looked desperate to instil some confidence in the Waikato side, but as the scoreline widened there was little the Silver Fern could do to save her crumbling team.
Soaring ahead in what looked like an effortless performance, the Steel calmly secured victory over a Magic side that lacked flair and passion.
Once in serious contention for a spot in the top three, the Magic will now be lucky to not land at the bottom of the table, while the Steel look increasingly likely to meet the Pulse in the grand final.
The action will continue at Pulman Arena tomorrow night when the Stars take on the Pulse.
Silver Ferns goal shoot Grace Nweke speaks about the Constellation Cup series and the rivalry against the Diamonds in the final match. Video / Alyse Wright