Steel to host elimination final

The Steel’s Stadium Southland fortress awaits the Mainland Tactix who mised out on the chance to host the ANZ Premiership elimination final.

Led by another shooting masterclass from Grace Nweke (49 goals from 51 attempts), the tabletopping Mystics outclassed the Tactix 63-59 in Christchurch yesterday.

After the Steel pipped the Pulse on Saturday, the Tactix needed to win to earn a home elimination final on Sunday.

Instead, the Tactix will have to take on the Steel in Invercargill in the (two versus three) elimination final with the winner advancing to play the Mystics in the grand final on August 8 in Auckland.

The Steel don’t often lose in Invercargill and have some of the most parochial netball fans. The Tactix would have much preferred to host a finals game for the first time in history, but a sloppy first half hurt them.

This was an impressive win for the Mystics, who could have easily taken their foot off the pedal against the Tactix having already booked their spot in the decider.

They will head to the grand final full of confidence after not only finishing with 11 wins from 15 round games, but showing their quality away from home against the classy Tactix.

Down 35-26 at halftime, the Tactix clawed their way back into the contest in the third quarter.

A dominant 18-12 third term from the Tactix trimmed the Mystics’ advantage to 47-44 entering the last quarter setting up another tense finish between these sides.

Last week, the Mystics almost butchered a big lead against the Pulse, narrowly hanging on to win, but they kept their composure against the Tactix.

Despite making several mini runs in the last quarter, the Mystics were able to stay four or five goals in front, with Nweke proving tough to contain in the shooting end.

The Mystics would have been thrilled to head into halftime leading by nine goals (35-26), briefly silencing the packed crowd at Christchurch Arena.

They capitalised from 11 firsthalf Tactix turnovers, having seven more attempts at goal in the opening 30 minutes.

Nweke benefited from crisp ball from Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle, slotting all 24 of her opportunities in the first half.

The halftime introduction of wing attack Erikana Pedersen sparked the Tactix, helping them and claw their way back into the game.

Mystics coach Helene Wilson made the call to go with Filda Vui at goal attack, earning her first start of the season, with Bailey Mes on the bench.

Mes has found the going tough this season, still hindered by a knee injury from last year. She had converted just 60 of 101 attempts leading into the game.

Vui had an impressive first half, landing 11 from 13. Mes replaced her to start the second half with Wilson mixing up her shooting end ahead of the grand final.

After a rough game last week against the Magic, Te Paea SelbyRickit started brightly for the Tactix, converting her first six attempts and taking the pressure off Ellie Bird.

A strong finish to the opening term allowed the Mystics to take a four goal cushion into the first quarter break (18-14).

The Tactix made a sparkling start to the second quarter, picking up defensive ball and capitalising. They went on a 5-0 run to level the score at 19-19.

The Mystics hit back with a powerful passage of play themselves, opening up a crucial eight goal buffer (30-22).

The Tactix did pull it back in the second half but their sloppy first half proved their undoing, leaving them with too much ground to make up.