Netball: Mainland Tactix win leaves Northern Mystics stuck on bottom of ANZ Premiership ladder

Tactix player Kate Beveridge during their ANZ Premiership Netball match. Photosport

A win for the Northern Mystics is becoming incredibly elusive.

After five games in the 2019 ANZ Premiership season, the Mystics remain at the bottom of the ladder, suffering another loss today at the hands of the Mainland Tactix.

Going down 52-48 at Nelson's Trafalgar Centre, the Northern side showed little improvement outside of a hard-fought final quarter - which managed to snag them a single bonus point.

Frustrated Mystics captain Phoenix Karaka said despite showing the ability to fight back, it wasn't a good enough performance.

"To be able to start like that and be down by 10 in the first quarter, I'm sorry but that's not ANZ [Premiership] netball," Karaka said. "We need to be working harder to grind on that attack and just get the ball in the hoop, that's all we need to do.

"It's just about getting our mindset in the right place and having the confidence within ourselves to just do the game plan."

The Tactix dominated from the start of the clash with the Mainland side's connections flowing effortlessly across the court as young midcourters Kimiora Poi and Samon Nathan put their impressive on-court connection with shooter Ellie Bird on display.

Meanwhile, Mystics shooting duo Bailey Mes and Jamie Hume continued to struggle under the hoop, much to the frustration of their defensive unit who snagged plenty of turnover ball.

Falling behind by more than 10 goals in the second quarter, the Mystics had plenty of work to do. Mystics and Silver Ferns defender Erena Mikaere became relentless in the shooting circle against Bird, while Karaka did her best to direct her side.

But the Tactix continued to get in the way of every attempt the Mystics made and it didn't take long for head coach Helene Wilson to make a change.

Calling Hume to the bench, Wilson put high school student Grace Nweke, who only recently stepped up into the Premiership environment, back on display.

The 17-year-old handled the pressure from Tactix captain and Silver Ferns defender Jane Watson confidently, netting 32 from 37 attempts in just her third appearance for the side.

With the Mystics 15 goals down, Wilson continued to shuffle her players around in the final quarter in a desperate bid to close the gap and in a sudden swing of momentum, the visitors surged, to dominate the final minutes of the game.

But coming as close as four goals to the win, it was a case of too little too late for the Mystics as the Tactix held their lead to deliver their home crowd that winning feeling.

The Mystics have a week to regroup before facing the Stars next Sunday, when they host the second Super Sunday of the season at Auckland's Trusts Arena, while the Southern Steel and the Central Pulse will meet in a top-of-the-table clash tomorrow night.