Latest news with #Tactix
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Starting Strong: First Place Tactix Believe They Are Just Get Started
After posting their biggest ANZ Premiership win so far, the Tactix believe they have not reached their full potential as the team prepares for a round-five rematch against the Steel in Invercargill. Week-on-week, the team has been learning in game errors and have been working hard to protect their possession of the ball, with the side delivering the highest rate of intercepts and deflections with gains in round four. Reflecting on their on court gains, goal shoot Martina Salmon believes the show of improvement for both attack and defence, is only the tip of the iceberg for the Tactix. 'As a team we are just getting started, and we have so much more to give on court,' Salmon said. ''I am looking forward to what the team brings in this week's game against the Steel.' Meanwhile, Tactix head coach Donna Wilkins is resisting making too many player changes, but acknowledges the coveted shooting positions are competitive with Martina Salmon, Ellie Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rickit performing well. 'I have to be a bit more ruthless, I don't like to make a lot of changes, but I will switch things up if it isn't working…at the end of the day it is about the team result,' Wilkins said. Wilkins reiterated that the shooter's cautious use of the two-point shot is proving a winning strategy, with Ellie Bird landing 100% of her one-point goal attempts against the Mystics. 'We are seeing the other teams starting to take the two-point shot less and less, unless it comes with a degree of certainty. In the first round we saw teams taking over ten attempts, and that is drastically changing,' Wilkins said. In her seventh season for the Tactix, Ellie Bird believes working on her mindset has positively impacted her game, and helped her land 50 out of 50 shots in the last game. 'I have shifted my mentality, it's not my netball mindset that has changed, it is my mindset in life that has changed - positivity, self-belief, not beating myself up when I make mistakes, throwing perfectionism out the window… you can really surprise yourself with how much further you can go when you take those limitations out,' Bird said. She has also observed the team quickly adapting to a new era of netball under Wilkin's coaching expertise. 'I really love Donna, she has a lot to add, she has a real passion for the sport and you can see the fiery passion that she had when she was playing, come through in her coaching,' Bird said. The well-aged combination of Ellie Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rickit has brought success to the goal circle, with Bird saying they can read each other's next move on court. 'Te Paea will always be looking at me to pass the ball and I am always ready, there is a trust and confidence that you build over six years together,' Bird said. She believes the Tactix will have to work to stay at the top of the table, but the secret to success comes down to attitude and putting in the work off the court as well. 'Staying at the top just takes the top 10%, it's the team's mindset that will get us there.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Table-Topping Win For Tactix
Storming home in the final quarter, VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix delivered an emphatic 61-50 win over the previously unbeaten Northen Mystics in front of a sell-out crowd in Rangiora on Saturday. The Tactix excelled across all areas of the court with 1.96m shooter Ellie Bird a dominant force after returning a perfect 50 from 50 under the hoop. She was given quality support from the midcourt duo of Erikana Pedersen and Holly Mather who provided the flow and attacking accuracy, while the defensive end, particularly the in-circle pairing of Jane Watson and Karin Burger were at their menacing and relentless best through a suffocating and tireless presence. The result elevated the Tactix to the top of the table, dethroning the defending champions who, despite being in the race for three-quarters of the match, struggled to gel at the attacking end after being without injured strike weapon Donnell Wallam under the hoop. Coming into the final quarter with a four-goal lead, the Tactix made no race of it down the home straight, composure, efficiency with ball in hand and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over taking the wind out of the Mystics sails. A Te Paea Selby-Rickit super shot, the Tactix only success from range during the match, putting a definitive stake in ground of the home side's dominance. While opposing shooter Filda Vui was successful with six super shots, the Mystics were outplayed on the day. It was a mixed start from each side with both sets of defences playing prominent roles in providing turnover opportunities before the Tactix got their noses in front. Playmaking goal attack Selby-Rickit provided clever passing options in getting the ball into Bird's hand for the Tactix while the Mystics required more patience in settling into a new attacking front line. Long-range shooting specialist Vui nailed a crucial super shot to haul the Mystics back to level teams before nudging in front and taking a slim 13-12 into the first break. The home lifted their defensive intensity a notch or two on the resumption with experienced duo Burger and Watson restricting the Mystics ball into the shooters. They were well-supported by centre Mather, who delivered a handy flow of pin-point long -range feeds into Bird while also popping up effectively on defence. The tactics eventually broke the shackles with the homes side pushing out to a six-goal lead. Marvels National Netball League player Sophia Lafaiali'I was injected for the Mystics at goal shoot with six minutes to go while captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson followed from the bench shortly after. With no need to take super shots, Bird continued to play a strong hand under the Tactix hoop, but Vui and Lafaiali'i helped the side reduce the deficit with one apiece to bring the Mystics right back into the frame, the home side taking a 30-28 lead into the main break. The Tactix made the best of starts to open the third stanza scoring with a quickfire five goals without response to build a handy seven-goal buffer while the relentless Watson and Burger combination, assisted by gritty wing defence Paris Lokotui, suffocated the Mystics while drawing errors on attack. Adding extra height, Charlotte Manley was injected at goalkeeper for the visitors, who made some amends in a spirited surge late in the quarter with non-stop midcourter Peta Toeava in the thick of the Mystics progress on attack. Another Vui super shot drew the Mystics back into contention but with the Tactix able to keep their supply into Bird – who nailed an impressive 37 from 37 during the first three-quarters – it was the home side who kept their noses in front when leading 43-39 at the last turn.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Eye Sold-Out Home Game Against Mystics
North Canterbury is set to host a sold-out, top-of-the-table clash between the Tactix and Mystics as both sides fight to remain at the top of ANZ Premiership leaderboard. Sitting in first place, the Northern Mystics will be looking to secure a fourth season win, while the VIP Frame and Trusses Tactix look to harness their home advantage, when the teams meet at MainPower Stadium in Rangiora on Saturday. After two close back-to-back North Island challenges, the sold-out MainPower game has come at the perfect time in the season for Tactix head coach Donna Wilkins. 'The first few weeks have been tough, but we have had a good start to the season and we are ready to be back in front of our local crowd, we have missed the cheering Tactix fans!' Wilkins said. In training, the Tactix have been working on correcting in-game errors, with Wilkins pushing her team to fight hard for intercepts and protect ball possession, especially in the midcourt. 'We let the Magic get on top of us in errors last week, but to come away with the tight win - we know that when the pressure is on, we can pull back the game,' she said. With fewer games and new rules to adopt, Wilkins believes the new-look ANZ Premiership has proven that any team can walk away with a win. 'Each week, we have to bring our A-game, no win is guaranteed and when we look at the premiership leaderboard, there have been numerous close games and blow outs,' she said. The Mystics remain unbeaten in the 2025 competition, with shooter Donnell Wallam top point scorer, and top 2-pointer shooter; a challenge the Tactix are excited to meet head on. Fans can expect a strong defensive response, with Tactix vice-captain Karin Burger and international alumni Jane Watson demonstrating against the Stars, that they are adapting week-on-week to the fast and physical demands of the extended goal circle. 'With the change up with the 2-point rule for defence, we are now looking at forcing errors and getting rebounds but we will still have to get out (on the court) and fight for the ball and fight for the intercepts,' Burger said. A full Tactix squad is available to play in Rangiora, with captain Erikana Pedersen match fit after a preseason leg injury. While this week's clash has sold-out, there is coverage on TVNZ+ and Sky Sport delayed, while tickets for the Tactix v Pulse in Round 6 at Wolfbrook Arena 15 June are available via Ticketmaster.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Pulse come back
The Central Pulse bounced back from last week's loss to beat the Northern Stars 69-45 at Pulman Arena, in Auckland, on Saturday to open the third round of the ANZ Premiership. In Hamilton, Tactix held on for a pulsating 48-44 win over a gallant Magic last night. The Tactix, at the top of the ladder, led by one point at the start of the final quarter. The Southern Steel face the Northern Mystics in Dunedin tonight. — APL
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tokaduadua's Fijian Flair Lighting Up ANZ Premiership
Press Release – Stars Netball When Lili Tokaduadua steps out onto the netball court in the Stars dress, not only is she living out her netball dream, she's also proudly representing her family and her Fijian roots. Tokaduadua left Fiji when she was 15 to take up an opportunity at Howick College and made her ANZ Premiership debut for the Stars last season, playing 11 games and showing why she's regarded as one of the competition's most promising defenders. The 20-year-old further announced herself this season, after a stellar performance at goal defence in the Stars' 57-52 win over the Tactix in round 2, where she earned player of the match honours, stuffing the stats sheet, with 7 gains, five intercepts and three deflections. In the crowd for the game was Tokaduadua's number one supporter, her mum, Eleni, who was visiting from Fiji and found herself in the rare position of being able to watch her daughter play live. 'It's really special with it being my second year in the Stars and her watching me again. It was great having her at home with me too as I don't see her all the time.' Tokaduadua said. While Eleni is Tokaduadua's biggest fan, the motherly trait of becoming her biggest critic can sometimes shine through to ensure Tokaduadua doesn't get too ahead of herself. 'She always sends me a paragraph before every game saying I need to jump and do this and that, giving me tough love.' Tokaduadua explained. 'After the game on Sunday where I thought I did well she was still telling me I have things to work on and I'm like 'okay Mum, I thought I did good!'' Tokaduadua laughed. While text messages and facetime can help keep people connected, there's nothing like mum's physical presence to make a good win that much sweeter. 'She's always proud though. When I see her, she's always crying after games and it's been special having her here. After the game on Sunday, we had a function for Mila's 100th game and she had a chance to see everyone which was nice.' The game against the Tactix was Tokaduadua's first time wearing the goal defence bib at the ANZ Premiership level – an exciting experience Tokaduadua's keen to get the most out of. 'It's fun, I'm feeling fit and I'm excited to do whatever Temepara throws at me and do my job for the team and those who are injured. I want to make the most of the opportunities and do my best.' Tokaduadua added. 'My biggest work on at the moment is my passing and placement and every training I always get reminded to calm down because I put too much pressure on myself to get it right. I want to start games nailing all of these things.' Standing alongside Tokaduadua in the defensive circle was new signing Remi Kamo, who was also immense at goal keep, with the pair forming a formidable combination. 'We've clicked really well now and have a strong connection. Sunday was our first time playing together and I love how Remi plays, she can jump so high and I admire her and she talks to me heaps and I learn so much and she's amazing.' Tokaduadua said. Tokaduadua's also lapping up the wealth of knowledge on hand from her assistant coach and Silver Ferns legend Leana de Bruin, who's helped her transition into her new role. 'She's amazing and world class. She has a lot of defensive knowledge and never stops telling me things. I'm always keen to learn and be better and she's helped me a lot.' Sitting in the stands watching the Tactix game was former Silver Ferns and Fijian defender Vilimaina Davu, someone who Tokaduadua couldn't help but notice. 'It made me feel pride that I'm representing Fiji on the court and she's there having been the first Fijian to represent the Silver Ferns was special and she's a role model for me to look up to.' Though they might be far away, Tokaduadua knows she's always going to have those closest right behind her for every step of her netball journey. 'I'm getting messages from my cousins in Fiji who told me I had a good game and it's cool to know they're watching. I'm just really proud to not only represent the Stars but my culture.'
