The Tactix are still searching for their first win in this
year's trans-Tasman netball championship after slumping to a 60-40
loss at the hands of the Melbourne Vixens in Australia tonight.
After an encouraging first quarter effort, where they only
trailed by a goal, the Tactix were blown off the court in the
second 15 minutes when they were outscored 19 goals to five, to
trail by 15 goals at halftime.
The unbeaten Vixens, who had made a sloppy start to the contest,
got into their work in the second quarter, with experienced
defenders Bianca Chatfield and Geva Mentor lifting their
work-rate.
They made life tough for the Tactix midcourt, who struggled to
get the ball into their shooters.
Mistakes began to creep into the visitors' game, with far too
much possession being gifted to the Vixens. They also gave the
Melbourne shooters too many easy opportunities in front of the post
due to their high penalty count in the defensive circle.
The Vixens' shooters sprung into life, with young goal shoot
Karyn Howarth stepping up her play. Midway through the second
quarter, the Tactix trailed by four goals, but the Vixens seized
the iniative in the latter stages of the term, going on a 9-0 run
to effectively kill off their opponents and by halftime they had a
15 point cushion.
Tactix coach Leigh Gibbs tried to switch things up at halftime,
pulling off heavily penalised defender Bessie Manu for the athletic
Louise Thayer. New Zealand under-21 international Kirsten Hurley
was also handed her trans-Tasman netball league debut in place of
Keshia Grant in the midcourt, and showed some positive intent.
The Vixens refused to let up in the second half, however, with
their advantage blowing out to 20 goals with five minutes remaining
in the third quarter.
The Tactix made further changes as the game wore on with Julianna
Naoupu, who is slowly working her way back from off-season knee
surgery, getting time in the shooting circle, and Jo Trip replacing
Zoe Walker in the defence end.
Despite the large deficit, the Tactix fought valiantly until the
final whistle, and actually outscored their more fancied opponents
13-12 during the last quarter
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