Netball: Tactix in wooden spoon territory

Anna Thompson for the Tactix. Photo / Vaughn Ridley, SWPIX.COM

Four days ago they made the high-flying Magic look ordinary, but last night the Canterbury Tactix had no answers against the battling Central Pulse as they slumped to their 10th loss of the season.

The two-goal loss in Christchurch all but confirms the Tactix will finish with the wooden spoon for the second straight year.

Playing their fourth game in 11 days, the Tactix failed to capitalise on a strong start, allowing the Pulse to surge back in to the match in the second quarter, and take control in the third. And while the Canterbury side fought hard in the final spell, an unusually assured Pulse held their nerve for their third win of the season.

This was already a breakthrough year for the Pulse, having recorded multiple wins for the first time this season following their round six win over the Tactix and a victory over the Fever in round eight.

Last night's second win over the Tactix will likely ensure the Pulse finish eighth in the standings - their highest finish in the competition and a nice reward for their long-suffering coach Yvette McCausland-Durie, who has signalled this is her last year at the Wellington-based franchise.

The Tactix led 15-11 after a messy opening spell, in which both sides lacked cohesion on attack. The defenders had a field day early on with Tactix goal keep Charlotte Kight particularly influential.

The home side that found their rhythm on attack first, pulling away at the end of the quarter as shooters Anna Thompson and Donna Wilkins found good space under the goal.

The Pulse dominated the opening exchanges of the second quarter, as the introduction of Bessie Manu in to goal keep unsettled the Tactix attack. Manu and Ferns' defender Katrina Grant did a solid job of frustrating the Tactix attack, shutting down key play-maker Wilkins.

The visitors levelled the score at 17-all six minutes in to the period, and then took the lead in the following possession.

After a shaky start young goal attack Alannah Cassidy, who was promoted to the starting line-up in place of Amber Bellringer, opened up the shooting circle with some strong movement in the second quarter.

But Australian import Caitlin Thwaites shouldered most of the shooting duties.

A dominant 13-8 second quarter saw the Pulse hold a narrow one-goal lead at halftime.

The score remained tight for much of the third quarter, until the Tactix lost their way in the last five minutes, the visitors scoring five unanswered goals.

But Pulse's handy 38-33 lead heading in to the final spell was quickly overturned by the Tactix as the home side battled to level the score at 38-all five minutes in to the period to set up a tense finish to the match.

The Pulse held their nerve though, with Grant stealing a crucial intercept with two minutes remaining on the clock to regain control of the match.