Overshadowed at both ends of the court, the Canterbury Tactix were unable to send foundation coach Helen Mahon-Stroud off with a win, going down 69-52 to the Queensland Firebirds in a trans-Tasman netball championship match in Christchurch today.
Mahon-Stroud, in charge since 2008, could not have picked tougher opponents forher final match in charge -- with today's the win the table topping Firebirds have gone through the regular season unbeaten in all 13 of their matches.
The Tactix, having won just one game all season, were well aware they needed to prevent the ball reaching the Firebirds' towering Jamaican goal shoot Romelda Aiken.
But given that Tactix defenders Anna Galvan and Charlotte Kight conceded some centimetres in reach to Aiken, it was always going to be difficult.
At the other end, Firebirds circle defenders Amy Steel and her replacement Clare McMeniman as well as Laura Geitz also had height advantage over Tactix shooters Donna Wilkins and Ellen Halpenny with the latter often having her shots slapped away legally.
The Tactix played their hearts out in the first quarter taking advantage of a slow start form the Firebirds to tie the quarter 15-15.
But once the Queensland juggernaut found their rhythm, and Aiken her range, the fight was over.
Coming off a 33-37 lead at halftime, the Firebirds rolled to a 52-42 lead with a quarter to go before finishing off the game at 69-52 and consign the Tactix to retaining the wooden spoon for another year. They finished eighth and then sixth in the first two editions of the championship.
Aiken sank 50 from 55 attempts and was ably fed by and supported in the scoring by Natalie Medhurst who had 19 from 21.
Halpenny had 26 successful shots from 35 attempts while Wilkins scored 26 from 35, under par by her standards.
