At a glance

The sides went into the third quarter break tied at 40-40 with costly turnovers hindering the Tactix in the third term when they attempted to push their lead out. Both teams made a horror start with their shooting. The Steel missed seven of their first eight attempts with standout Tactix circle defenders Temalisi Fakahokotau and Watson unsettling O’Connell and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. Silver Fern Selby-Rickit missed her first two shots, while the usually accurate O’Connell was 1/5 to begin the game. The Tactix battled early too, landing two of their first five attempts. After a sloppy start, the sides finally got into their rhythm with Bird leading the way in the Tactix shooting end. She converted 11 from 12 in the opening term as the Tactix went into the first-quarter break 13-11 ahead. No love was lost in the southern derby with Tactix goal attack Brooke Leaver being warned for swearing by umpire Jono Bredin in the first quarter. The Steel started the second quarter with a flourish, going on a 4-1 run to take the lead. With Fakahokotau briefly heading to the sideline because of injury, the Tactix appeared to be in trouble but refused to let the Steel break away on the scoreboard. A late burst to end the first half saw the red-and-blacks head into halftime in front 27-26. Tactix 53 (Ellie Bird 38/43, Brooke Leaver 6/9, Kate Beveridge 9/12) Steel 52 (Jennifer O’Connell 42/52, Te Paea Selby-Rickit 10/16). 1Q: 13-11, HT: 27-26, 3Q: 40-40.