Tactix pipped in thriller
Wendy Frew will get one last hurrah after all.
The Southern Steel withstood a mighty challenge from the Mainland Tactix to prevail 53-49 in the elimination final in Invercargill last night and book a place in Sunday’s national netball premiership grand final.
They will face the Pulse in Palmerston North in a rematch of last year’s decider.
The Steel stepped up when it mattered in the final quarter to give retiring skipper Frew a winning home farewell and ensure her 16-year elite career will get one final game.
It was an electric crowd at Stadium Southland, which was renamed ‘Wendy Frew Stadium’ for the occasion and they helped get the Steel home in a tense final term, where they almost let a sixgoal cushion (49-43) slip.
Goal shoot Jen O’Connell slotted 38/40 in a composed display for the Steel, benefiting from some excellent ball from her midcourt. Tactix goal shoot Ellie Bird also impressed, landing 42/45, continuing her huge improvement in 2018.
The Tactix deserve plenty of credit for what they brought to the match. It was a gutsy display from the Christchurch-based outfit, who were playing in their first finals match in the Tactix 11-year history.
With the score locked at 42-42 early in the final quarter, the experience of the Steel side shone through. They scored three goals in a row and opened the final term with a 9-2 run to build a 49-43 advantage.
Gina Crampton showed her class, pulling off a key intercept from Erikana Pedersen as the Tactix began to lose their way.
The Tactix cut the Steel lead to 50-49 with three minutes to go, but the Steel held their nerve to sneak home in another pulsating finish between the South Island rivals.
Matches between these sides have been nailbiters all season with the highest margin in the three round games just three goals. This one was no different with the Tactix producing a storming finish to the first half to head into halftime 29-28 ahead.
The Steel were well placed, up 22-16 early in the second quarter, but the Tactix as they have all season, refused to go away.
Led by outstanding defensive duo Temalisi Fakahokotau and skipper Jane Watson they picked up a steady supply of defensive ball and frustrated the Steel attacking links. The Tactix won the second quarter 17-13 to jump into the lead.
With 1.96m Bird in their attacking end, few teams can score faster than the Tactix. They produced a powerful end to the first half to head into the halftime break the happier of the sides.
A 7-3 burst to begin the third quarter saw the Tactix extend their lead to 36-31 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
It was a see-saw affair with the Steel then replying with three goals in a row of their own to close the gap.
Bird landed a goal in the dying seconds of the third term to give the Tactix a 41-40 edge approaching the final quarter.