Tactix eye finals spot

Finals netball is becoming a distinct possibility for the Mainland Tactix.

Once the whipping girls of New Zealand netball, the Tactix’s 2018 turnaround continued yesterday with a 50-40 win over the Northern Mystics in Nelson.

Victory lifts the Tactix to second equal on the table on 14 points with the Southern Steel, who have a game in hand. The Tactix have a difficult road home facing competition leaders, the Central Pulse twice, as well as the Steel away and the resurgent Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

The Pulse look short-priced favourites to finish first and host the August 12 final, but the Tactix are firmly in the mix for the elimination final between teams finishing second and third.

Building on a halftime lead has never been a hallmark for the Tactix, but they will take oodles of confidence from the way they maintained their intensity in the second half after leading 28-20 at the main break.

The Mystics, one of the most talented sides in the competition, continue to bewilder.

After being thumped by 15 goals on Wednesday against the Magic, they were again well below their best. Silver Fern standout Maria Folau, who featured on Wednesday, wasn’t with the side yesterday and her coming and going has clearly had a disruptive effect on the Auckland outfit.