Tactix extinguish Firebirds

TACTIX 53 FIREBIRDS 46

BY KATIE BAYLIS

THE Tactix have thrown their southern neighbours, the Steel, a huge lifeline with a massive upset 53-46 win yesterday over the Queensland Firebirds in Christchurch.

The Firebirds needed victory to stay in the top four, with the Steel, who play the Mystics tomorrow night, just behind them on the table.

If the Steel win that match they will leapfrog the Firebirds into fourth position, keeping them well on track for a place in the finals.

However, that wouldn't have featured in the minds of the Tactix players who, now out of the running for the playoffs, were playing for just their fourth win of the season and a bit of Kiwi pride in this weekend's only trans-Tasman clash.

And after a season of heartbreaking one and two-goal losses, the Canterbury side finally put it all together for their best performance of the season and second win over an Australian side this year.

"It's an awesome feeling. That's what we've been wanting all year," an ecstatic Tactix captain Maree Bowden said after the match.

"It was such a good team effort and we held it all together in the end. I just feel like crying. It's so awesome."

Bowden captained the side in the absence of Julie Seymour, who pulled out of the match with an Achilles injury, with Phillipa Finch stepping in at centre. But the underdogs came out strongly, playing like a side that shouldn't be sitting seventh on the table.

All eyes were on the Firebirds' shooting circle with a much-anticipated match-up between Jamaican star Romelda Aiken and English international Sonia Mkoloma.

And it was Mkoloma who dominated the battle with her best showing of the year.

Mkoloma and young New Zealand Under-21 defender Charlotte Kight made the usually easy passage for the Firebirds into Aiken almost impossible at times, with the pair picking up a wealth of turnover ball in the first quarter.

Down the other end Jodi Brown was almost shut out of the game by Firebirds defenders Laura Geitz and Demelza McLeod early on but with goal attack Angela Mitchell on song the Tactix were up 12-11 at the first break.

The understanding between Brown, who is in line for a Silver Ferns recall this season, and former New Zealand rep Mitchell, strengthened in the second spell as the pair made easy work of the Firebirds defence which was minus Geitz after she was surprisingly benched by coach Vicki Wilson.

By halftime the match was tied at 24-all, which saw Mitchell benched in favour of Anna Thompson.

The intense physical nature of the game was clearly illustrated in the third quarter as Tactix wing defence Larissa Wilcox was sent off for four goals for persistent obstruction.

By three-quarter time Tactix were ahead 37-34. But it was the final quarter that sealed the deal for the Cantabs as they pulled away impressively for their seven-goal win.

It was the Tactix best overall performance of the season.

"They just played so well all over the court," said Firebirds captain Peta Stephens. "They had a game plan for how to beat us and they executed it really well."

The Firebirds host the Steel in Brisbane next week in a match that could be key to the makeup of the top four.

- © Fairfax NZ News