Latest news with #VIPFramesandTrussesTactix
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
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Remain Unbeaten By Southern Rivals
The VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix came away with a convincing 57-50 win over the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in their first match of the ANZ Premiership in a high quality game of Sunday night netball. Honouring the memory of the late Kelly Hutton, who passed away in 2023 from ovarian cancer, and her sister Megan Hutton, the Hutton Family Trophy will be up for grabs every time the southern derby takes place. The Tactix maintained their dominance over their southern rival, going unbeaten by the Steel in their last 9 matches, with a passionate home crowd on the edge of their seats while the teams fought for ball possession. Coming onto the court for her debut, Holly Mathers took on the starting position at centre commanding the midcourt and convincingly feeding the ball into the goal circle. Captain Erikana Pedersen led the team through a close first quarter achieving a four point lead but with equal ball possession between the sides, the Tactix went into halftime with only a one point advantage. With the match neck-and-neck through the second quarter, the Steel stole valuable possession with intercepts in the midcourt changing the tide for the two teams, with the Steel leading at halftime. Goal shoot Ellie Bird set the winning tone, maintaining approximately 90% shooting accuracy throughout the first half while Martina Salmon (on her debut for the Tactix) brought the heat to the goal circle, sinking the first two-point goal for the Tactix in the third quarter. Both sides utilised the new time-out rule, taking the opportunity to break the flow of play during the second quarter, while the Tactix remained conservative on 2-point supershot attempts, with all shots (bar one) achieved from within the goal circle. The international pairing of Jane Watson and Karin Burger were hot on defence, maintaining pressure in the Steel shooting circle, proving to be critical following the Steel's twelve, 2-point shot missed attempts. The victory is an early statement from the Tactix, and is a testament to Head Coach Donna Wilkins' early work in shaping the team into a connected, competitive unit. Next week the team takes on the Stars at Pulman Arena in Auckland.
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Fend Off Gritty Steel To Claim First-up Win
11 May 2025 Former Silver Fern Donna Wilkins launched her elite level coaching career in the best possible fashion after steering VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix to a 57-50 win over a dogged Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Christchurch on Sunday. Honouring the memory of the late Kelly Hutton, who passed away in 2023 from ovarian cancer, and her sister Megan Hutton, both former Canterbury representative with Megan also playing for the Steel, the Hutton Family Trophy was on the line for the first time. Taking time to find their feet, the Tactix took charge in the second half of the southern derby with more impetus on attack through their young midcourt pairing of Holly Mather and Parris Petera, a lively defensive contribution from Jane Watson and sure shooting from Martina Salmon. With the game delicately poised and the Tactix leading 42-41 at the last break it was still anyone's game, the Tactix making a telling push to forge a handy lead in the run home. With key Steel midcourter Kate Heffernan ruled out with injury and assistant coach Liana Leota named on the bench as cover, and shooter Aliyah Dunn, despite being sidelined for two minutes after dangerous play in the final quarter, but coming back to nail two two-pointers, the southerners remained well in the frame throughout. The young Steel team made a great fist of challenging the Tactix, whose greater experience proved decisive in the end. Respective goal shoots, Ellie Bird for the home side and Dunn, in her 100th national league match, suiting up in her hometown colours against her old team, were key figures through the first stanza with both returning blemish-free returns from one-point range. Neither side had any luck from the two-point arc, the new rule coming into play for the final five minutes of each quarter of matches this season, the Tactix making the most of their extra opportunities to head into the first break with a 14-10 lead. They were out of the blocks quickly on the resumption, scoring the first three goals before the Steel surged back into contention. With rangy new signing Carys Stythe making Bird earn her goals, the long reach of the defender, who made the move south during the off-season, grabbed a series of clutch turnover ball. With five goals on the trot, the Steel grew in confidence through their effective defensive pressure and sure flow through court, the experience of Kimiora Poi and rising young midcourter Serina Daunakamakama having a healthy impact. Drawing level 10 minutes in, Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan nailed two super shots to nudge the visitors into a 27-26 halftime lead. A revelation last season, Salmon was injected into the game for the Tactix for the second half alongside wing attack Petera as the teams went goal-for goal throughout a close contest, the shooter going on to have a telling impact. Crack defender Watson got some classic turnovers under the Steel hoop as the Tactix flexed their collective muscle, Salmon adding to the home team's impetus with a third quarter two-pointer to push their buffer out to five. In a tale for the ages, 40-year-old Steel assistant coach Leota was injected in at wing attack for the visitors for her 211th national league match after playing for several New Zealand and England franchises during a decorated career. Her presence had the desired result, helping the Steel make another concerted push, a two-pointer from Dunn leaving the match on a knife-edge when the Tactix took a 42-41 lead into the last turn.
