Netball: Third quarter meltdown denies Tactix win over Mystics

Mystics player Bailey Mes and Tactix player Zoe Walker. Photo / Photosport

A third quarter meltdown has denied the Mainland Tactix their first win in the ANZ Premiership.

Leading by six at halftime, the Tactix found the rarity of leading too much to handle, losing the third period 19-5 on their way to a 63-51 defeat to the Northern Mystics.

That perhaps understates how poor the Tactix were in the third quarter, following their impressive start to the contest.

An Ellie Bird goal after 45 seconds extended their lead to 33-26, before their collapse began. The Tactix went nearly six minutes without even mustering a shot as the Mystics reeled off a nine-goal run.

After a mixed first half, Maria Tutaia was cashing in from long distance as the Mystics turned up the pressure on the Tactix midcourters, who couldn't back up their first half incision. The Tactix coughed up 11 turnovers in the third quarter, and their drought extended into the fourth. They remarkably only managed four shots in 17 minutes as another 10-0 Mystics run created a game-sealing 50-37 advantage.

That horror period consigned the Tactix to a tenth straight loss this season, and wasted their best half of the season. Their second quarter was close to the antithesis of the third; a quarter where the Tactix were disruptive defensively, converted on mistakes and created fast-paced opportunities.

The Mystics shooting duo of Bailey Mes and Tutaia struggled in the first half, but found their footing in the second, fed by the excellent Elisapeta Toeava, who finished with 20 goal assists.

Some tinkering at the defensive end was required to find a combination which worked, but the introduction of Storm Purvis paid dividends in the second half, as she combined with Anna Harrison to finish with a combined six interceptions and 10 deflections.

The Tactix were better in the fourth quarter, losing it 18-14, and the Mainland franchise put up more of a fight than in their last clash with the Mystics, were they were thrashed 71-47. They also received another promising performance from goal shoot Bird, who shot 43/48 while being saddled with a rotating cast of largely unconvincing goal attacks.

Also unconvincing is the Mystics recent form, having lost to the Northern Stars on Wednesday. They sit outside of the playoff race in fourth, with 12 points through 10 games, and will require much improved performances to catch the Magic (13 points) and the Pulse (14), who both have a game in hand.