Ellie Bird of the Tactix under pressure from Kelly Jackson of the Central Pulse during the ANZ Premiership Elimination Final. Photo / Photosport
After a four-year wait, the Mainland Tactix are getting another shot at a maiden ANZ Premiership netball title.
The Tactix produced a second half comeback over the Central Pulse on Sunday evening, winning 57-52 to book a spot in next Sunday’s ANZ Premiership final, where they will look to deny the Northern Mystics a hat-trick of titles.
Trailing 30-26 at halftime, the home side took control with a five-point advantage in the third quarter eventually retaking the lead late in the quarter before closing out the elimination final in style.
Seven straight goals flipped the contest as the Tactix assured they finished their season at Wolfbrook Arena with a perfect record.
Eleanor Bird scored 47 goals, including going 14/16 in the pivotal third quarter, which turned the game.
Amelia Walmsley was near perfect for the Pulse, shooting 42 from 43, including some late two-point shots as they went on an 8-3 run to finish but falling short.
“We’ve known in the past we haven’t come out firing in that second half but we knew this was do-or-die. We haven’t been getting much ball on defence in our previous games and we just said ‘this is the last time, we might as well go out for anything and everything’,” Tactix defender Karin Burger told Sky Sport after the win.
“It wasn’t necessarily always a structure but we were just running at stuff. The attacking end was really good and solidifying it at the other end, so great teamwork today.”
The Tactix have previously lost two finals (2020 and 2021), the last time being against the Mystics.
They beat the minor premiers 61-50 in round four in Christchurch but the Mystics took out the most recent clash a week ago, 70-56.
The Tactix had earlier sprung a surprise in their starting line-up with Burger moving out to the wing and Paris Lokotui taking her spot alongside Jane Watson in the defensive circle. But it was the familiar frontline of Holly Mather, Erikana Pedersen – playing her 100th match for the Tactix – and Te Paea Selby-Rickit at goal attack while Bird got the nod ahead of Martina Salmon at goal shoot.
Missing three of their regular starters, including Parris Mason (injury), Whitney Souness and Fa’amu Ioane on the bench, the Pulse went with the experience of Gabi Simpson at centre, Maddy Gordon on the wing and Ainsleyana Puleiata at wing defence while Laura Balmer again teamed with Kelly Jackson in the defensive circle with Walmsley and Tiana Metuarau pairing up in the shooting circle.
With their seasons on the line, each side kept their nerves buried scoring from their centre passes and turnovers from either side kept the scoreline even early in the stanza.
The Tactix moving the ball quickly around the front circle while the Pulse looked for the high ball into Walmsley – success coming from the two camps with the scores locked at 5-5. The Tactix defensive unit attempted to attack the ball outside of the circle, shutting down options into Walmsley, but the quick release from Tiana Metuarau into her shooter gave the visitors the edge in a frenetic first quarter.
Souness and Ioane were injected into the match, heading into the super shot period, and another gain to the Pulse gave them a 14-10 advantage at the break.
Metuarau attempted her first goal of the game, and landed it, to keep her side ahead on the resumption of play but the Tactix returned to the court with intent, looking to close the four-goal buffer.
The struggles up front, however, returned to the Tactix’ play, with no easy entry into the shooting circle and an intercept from Jackson gave the visitors a six-goal lead midway through the second quarter.
Gordon dictated the tempo up front for the Pulse, hitting the circle edge and firing ball into Walmsley prompting a time-out from the Tactix to switch the defensive line with Burger moving to goal defence and Lokotui to the wing.
Five goals remained the difference heading into the second super shot period as the Pulse brought two-point specialist Amorangi Malesala into the match, but it was the Tactix who netted the first long bomb of the game with Selby-Rickit helping to close the gap to 26-30 on the buzzer for halftime.
Four quick goals to the Pulse at the start of the second half changed momentum and every goal the hosts were able to net was hard earned as the intensity increased.
The midcourt defensive efforts from the Tactix brought them back into the match with two turnovers allowing the hosts to cut the deficit to just two, warming up the red-and-black fans in the stands.
Patience with ball in hand was needed and the deflections started to mount for the Tactix as they levelled the scores with two minutes left in the spell, going into the turn with a 41-40 lead.