The Northern Mystics have set up a fascinating final round in the trans-Tasman netball league, thrashing the Canterbury Tactix 62-43 in Auckland tonight to keep alive their ambitions of a playoffs appearance.
The Mystics' eighth win from 12 matches sees them join third-placed New South Wales and fourth-placed Melbourne Vixenson 16 points.
The Auckland-based outfit are fifth on goal difference but with the two Australian teams facing each other in the final round next weekend, the Mystics just need to beat the struggling Southern Steel in Invercargill next Sunday to secure a spot in the semifinals.
They will probably need to improve their consistency, however, as they played well in patches but went off the boil in the second quarter against the league's worst team, which will be of concern to coach Debbie Fuller ahead of next week's must-win match in Southland.
The Mystics jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the opening exchanges and led 17-10 at the first interval, but a combination of loose play and a change of defensive tactics from Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud - she made some personnel changes and switched to a zonal marking system - saw the visitors win the second stanza 14-11 and trail by just 28-24 at the major break.
With Fuller's words no doubt ringing in their ears, the Mystics came out firing in the third quarter and sealed the victory by winning the 15-minute period 18-12.
They strolled away in the final quarter as the Tactix folded meekly, showing why they have won just one of 12 matches this season with a lack of composure and basic skills at both ends of the court.
Mystics goal shoot Cathrine Latu, last week named in the Silver Ferns squad, was again impressive under the post and landed 45 from 48 attempts in another polished display, outscoring the Tactix on her own.
Northern Mystics 62 (Cathrine Latu 45/48, Maria Tutaia 17/23) Canterbury Tactix 43 (Anna Thompson 22/28, Donna Wilkins 19/22, Ellen Halpenny 2/3). Halftime: 28-24.
