Netball: Gritty Tactix face another huge battle

Jodi Brown is developing a good combination with Anna Thompson in the shooting circle for the Tactix. Photo / Getty Images

The Canterbury Tactix have an all-but impossible task ahead of them in Saturday's transtasman netball league clash against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in Christchurch.

Not only are they coming off a soul-destroying extra-time 48-53 loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Monday, they are up against a Magic team stung by their galling 42-53 loss to the Queensland Firebirds last Sunday.

Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud, however, would dwell only briefly on the lost opportunities of Monday's mammoth effort.

"We had the chance to take it, but crucial turnovers at crucial times let them draw even. We shouldn't have put ourselves in that situation," she said.

Mahon-Stroud said the quick turn-around between matches would work in the Tactix's favour.

"While you can be disappointed in the result, there isn't the time to dwell on it. Certainly the focus is on reviewing the game and reassessing where we're at, then there's a pretty quick change of mindset, a switch-over to the next game.

"You don't have the luxury of dwelling on the disappointment and I don't think it's beneficial anyway."

Another to have a quick turn-around are the Northern Mystics, who also impressed with a fighting four-goal loss to defending championships NSW Swifts in Sydney on Monday.

They will meet the still-winless Central Pulse in Wellington on Monday, while the Southern Steel - along with the Firebirds - have the bye. The two Australian clashes in round five see the West Coast Fever meet the Swifts in Perth on Monday, and the Melbourne Vixens do battle with the Thunderbirds on Sunday.

The Tactix certainly impressed last Monday, pressuring the more fancied Thunderbirds right to the final whistle and falling away only in the closing stages of extra time.

While the southerners' full court defensive effort was impressive, circle defenders Sonia Mkoloma and Charlotte Kight were simply outstanding.

Mkoloma's pedigree as a world-class player is well documented - she has 85 caps for England - but Kight's performance at goal defence against vastly experienced goal attack Natalie Medhurst was something of a revelation.

The 19-year-old's anticipation and quick hands proved a real handful for the Australian representative, and Mahon-Stroud was impressed with her never-say-die approach.

"Charlotte doesn't have an attitude that allows her to get intimidated, which is fantastic," she said.

"She's young, fresh and keen - she just absorbs the training sessions, and the experience and support of the players around her like Sonia Mkoloma and Julie Seymour.

"She's just going from strength to strength at the moment."

Another to impress for the Tactix was goal attack Anna Thompson, whose combination with returning former Silver Fern Jodi Brown was one of the game's highlights.

Currently a member of the Silver Ferns squad, Thompson worked hard and looked poised under some intense pressure from feisty Australian representative Mo'onia Gerrard and English international Geva Mentor.

"Anna's calm and composed, and her decision making has greatly improved," Mahon-Stroud said. "Her confidence in taking her shots, and certainly her combination with (midcourter) Maree Bowden and Jodi Brown, has improved as well."

Mahon-Stroud said her team's consistent improvement since the ANZ Championship began on April 4 was encouraging.

"Our defensive unit has worked really well, and I think we're developing stronger links on attack in every game.

"Overall we're starting to minimise the error rate, and get a better understanding of the game plan and our execution of it."

However, the Tactix's chances of downing the Magic, with six Silver Ferns including the competition's top shooter in Irene van Dyk, are not good.

And, as Mahon-Stroud admits, a loss - however close - is still a loss.

"While it's good to improve, it'll be great to get some results. You can play really well and push to the nth degree, but at the end of the day, whether you lose by one goal, by five or by 18, it's still a loss."

- NZPA