Tactix try chair to stop Jamaican
The Tactix are using every trick in the book, including a chair, as they search for a way to combat Southern Steel star Jhaniele FowlerReid.
Few netball teams have found a way to limit the supply of ball flowing through to the 1.98m Jamaican giant since she joined the Steel in 2013.
The Tactix certainly haven’t and will still be having nightmares about their match in Christchurch three weeks ago. Fowler-Reid racked up a staggering 70 goals in the Steel’s record-breaking 90-41 rout, which was effectively the death knell for former Tactix coach Sue Hawkins.
The South Island rivals meet again in Dunedin on Sunday in a clash that has mismatch written all over it. While the Steel are 7-0 and in a league of their own, the Tactix find themselves winless from seven games.
Tactix training on Friday featured a chair being set up next to the goalpost, which young defender Kate Lloyd stood on to replicate Fowler-Reid’s towering height.
Defenders Zoe Walker and Temalisi Fakahokotau both tried to pull of intercepts as the ball was lobbed into Lloyd, a ploy the Steel will use repeatedly.
‘‘You try everything don’t you?,’’ Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said. ‘‘We’re trying a few new things out to see what we can do.’’
When the sides last met, it was game over after the first quarter with the Steel racing out to a 22-7 lead.
Delaney-Hoshek said players needed to be alert from the opening whistle and be sharper with their through court defence higher up the court.
‘‘Last game we played them, our transitions were slow, which meant their ball speed was quite fast. That’s a real focus to lift that aspect of the game.’’
After some encouraging signs in Delaney-Hoshek’s first match in charge against the Northern Stars on Sunday, which the Tactix lost 49-44, the team took a step back against the Mystics in Auckland on Wednesday.
The Tactix were outscored by a massive 41-17 margin during the second and third quarters in their 71-47 thumping by the Mystics.
Having led for most of the first term, Delaney-Hoshek said it was bitterly disappointing to implode in the second quarter, which the Mystics emphatically claimed 21-5.
She had spoken to the players about the need to stand strong when there was adversity.
‘‘When a team scores a few goals against us, we went into our shells a little bit and got a little bit quiet and stopped communicating. That’s been a real focus for us over the last couple of days.’’
Rookie goal shoot Ellie Bird, the sister of Chief and former Crusaders lock Dom Bird, impressed in her Tactix debut against the Mystics.
Taking the court with six minutes left in the third quarter, the 24-year-old, who is a member of Mainland’s second tier Beko League squad, finished with 22/25.
Bird will be in the squad against the Steel and DelaneyHoshek said starting her was ‘‘not out of the question’’.
At 1.94m, Bird provides a point of her difference with her height. She is the second tallest player in the competition outside FowlerReid.
Managing Bird in her first season of elite netball was pivotal, Delaney-Hoshek stressed.
‘‘I thought for a debut that was pretty incredible stats.
‘‘We just want to make sure she’s protected and not thrown into the deep end. It’s really important for her because it’s her first year in a long-term programme to get that training under her belt.
Delaney-Hoshek was close to finalising her assistant for the remainder of the campaign. She indicated it was someone from the Mainland zone and said they would be in place for the Pulse home game on May 15.
With Delaney-Hoshek not able to coach the Mainland Beko team, Lincoln University premier coach Peter McInnes is guiding the side, assisted by Rachel Stead and former Silver Fern and Tactix defender Anna Galvan.
Sunday’s game begins at 2pm.