Tactix get early shock from Steel

The Canterbury Tactix have some work to do ahead of the trans-Tasman netball championship after losing two games to the Southern Steel in a pre-season tournament at Pioneer Stadium at the weekend.

On Saturday, the Steel won 56-40 and yesterday the margin was greater – 58-38.

In the first game, Canterbury were in touch at the end of the first quarter with the score 12-11 to the Steel, but lost touch in the second quarter, trailing 19-30 at halftime, and they never recovered.

The Tactix were more competitive in the first half yesterday, trailing 10-12 after the first quarter and still in the game at halftime, down 23-25.

However, the wheels fell off in the second half. They were down 31-39 after three quarters and scored just seven goals to the Steel's 19 in the last quarter.

The Tactix will have another chance to test themselves against the Steel, three other ANZ Championship teams and an Australian Institute of Sport team in another pre-season tournament in Queenstown from February 19-21.

The other championship teams scheduled to participate are the Queensland Firebirds, the Northern Mystics and the Central Pulse.

A New South Wales state league team, Eastwood Ryde, played the Tactix and Steel at the weekend to give the sides a taste of the Australian style of play.

The Tactix will complete their pre-season build-up with a further game against the Southern Steel in Dunedin on March 13.

The Tactix play their first game in the 2010 championship against the Pulse at home on March 22.

- © Fairfax NZ News