Steel shine against emotional Tactix

The Steel beat the Tactix 70-52 in an emotion-fuelled ANZ Premiership game in Invercargill yesterday.

In a game where the events of Friday were still at the forefront of the minds of all players, particularly those in the Tactix team, the result seemed fairly unimportant.

However, both teams produced a quality and entertaining game, but one where the Steel were clearly the better team.

Tactix players were fighting back the tears during a moment’s silence for those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack.

It was clear the Tactix were playing on emotion from the early stages and they went out to a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

But the Steel got themselves into a rhythm, scoring the last five goals of the opening quarter to lead 16-11 after the first period.

Abby Erwood and Te Huinga Selby-Rickit both did a superb job in shutting down the supply to Tactix goal shoot Ellie Bird, which was crucial as Bird was outstanding under the net.

Earlier in the day the Magic got their second win, defeating the hapless Mystics 42-34 in the lowest scoring game in the history of the competition.

Both teams had struggled during the opening three rounds of the season, with just one win between them, so this fixture did have something

of a must-win feel about it.

The defence and midcourt was where this game was won by the Magic, with Casey Kopua and Samantha Sinclair both impressive.

It was a strong start from the Magic as they went up 5-2 after four minutes, but the Mystics worked their way back into the game and

were up 7-6 three minutes later.

The scoring was tit-for-tat for the remainder of the opening quarter, although a late surge put the Magic up 14-11 at the first break.

The midcourts from both teams were sloppy in the second quarter, while Kopua was standing out at goal defence for the Magic.

With just over two minutes of the half to go, Hume who had shot just four from 10, was yanked off and replaced by teenage star Grace Nweke.

The third quarter was won by the Mystic 9-7, but Monica Faulkner and Kelsey McPhee went on a scoring blitz at the start of the final period to build an unassailable lead.

For the Magic, their playoff hopes stay alive, while with the Mystics all hope is slipping away.