Tactix taught A harsh lesson
Turns out expectation doesn’t sit too well with the Mainland Tactix.
Talked up as ANZ Premiership competition favourites in preseason, the Tactix were thumped by 18 goals, losing to a fired up Southern Steel 54-36 in Invercargill last night.
With a vastly changed squad, not much was expected of the Steel this season. The TAB had them at a $21 for the title and most tipped them to finish bottom in 2021.
Coach Reinga Bloxham and the plucky southerners made some statement in the competition opener, surprising the Tactix with a committed performance, where they outmuscled and outplayed their more fancied opponents.
The Steel fully deserved their victory, but the Tactix were their own worst enemy, making sloppy attacking mistakes and struggling with their connections throughout the game.
It was a dismal showing from the Tactix, who lacked intensity and failed to front.
Stung by 28 turnovers, the Tactix also had 15 less shooting attempts than the Steel, converting just 77 per cent of their attempts.
The Steel’s victory was built around brilliant performances from midcourter Shannon Saunders and new English shooting import George Fisher, who had a memorable debut, landing 46 goals from 49 attempts.
Fisher got the better of star Tactix defender Jane Watson, who was quiet by her high standards.
Defensively, it was a standout team showing from the Steel. They forced the Tactix into uncharacteristic turnovers and restricted prolific goal shoot Ellie Bird to just 22 goals.
The Steel took a 38-30 lead into the final quarter, but never gave the Tactix a sniff, pushing their advantage out to 13 goals (45-32) with eight minutes left.
Earlier, the Steel started impressively, jumping out to a 6-3 lead while the Tactix made a nervous beginning, coughing up ball in the attacking end.
The Tactix started Jess Prosser at goal attack alongside Ellie Bird with Te Paea Selby-Rickit out of the opener with a right ankle injury sustained at the pre-season tournament in O¯ taki. Selby-Rickit is likely to miss the opening weeks of the season.
Having taken time to settle, the Tactix produced some decent phases to finish the first quarter with the sides locked at 11-11 after 15 minutes.
Fisher was lively in the first half, converting 21 from 23 as the Steel went into halftime with a 25-19 buffer.
Tactix coach Marianne Delaney
Hoshek was clearly unhappy by what she was seeing, going to her bench, bringing on Hannah Glen at goal attack for Prosser. Wing attack Samon Nathan, who was surprisingly handed a start, was also replaced by Erikana Pedersen.
The Tactix mixed around their combinations in the second half to try and get back into the match, but nothing they tried worked.
They will require a vast improvement in their next game against the Stars, who began the season with a win over the twotime defending champion Pulse yesterday.