A top-tier shooting performance from Trident Homes Tactix has boosted them into second place on the ANZ Premiership netball ladder as they dispatched Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel 58-45 in Christchurch.
Tactix goal shooter Aliyah Dunn shot at 100 percent, a calm presence in the circle, and delivering a flawless performance in tandem with goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit (18/23).
The Tactix, with four wins from six games, sat third on the ladder going into Sunday's game, and were heavily favoured to record another win over the struggling southerners
The Steel had already lost Georgie Fisher for the season after the English shooter ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament, and on Sunday had to front up without an injured Saviour Tui, with Eseta Autagavaia making the step up to goal shoot.
Georgia Heffernan at goal attack was energetic outside the circle, in combination with sister Kate at centre and wing attack Ivari Christie, but also shouldered much of the shooting duties in the first quarter, sinking nine from 10.
However, Tactix defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger were in outstanding form, shutting down the Steel circle efficiently and creating a huge amount of pressure on the feed into Autagavaia and Heffernan.
At the other end of the court, Dunn and Te Paea Selby-Rickit missed only two of their 18 attempts on goal, despite some hard work from Steel defenders Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and goal defence Kate Burley.
The Tactix built steadily on their 16-11 lead after the first break, efficient in working the ball through to the circle edge and finding their shooters with some varied feeds.
Dunn was always available, utilising her intelligent holding game and unerringly accurate on the shot in sinking 12 from 12 for the quarter. Te Paea Selby-Rickit's shooting stats were more sedate at two from four, but the vastly experienced goal attack got through a power of impressive work upcourt.
The Tactix again controlled the quarter to lead 30-20 at half-time, allowing coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek the chance to tweak her midcourt for the third quarter, shifting Kimiora Poi to centre and bringing on Parris Petera at wing attack.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham also rotated her bench, making a swathe of changes but the Tactix didn't miss a beat, sinking every one of their 17 shots on goal.
The Steel shooting combination - Jess Allen coming in late in the spell at goal shoot - missed only two of their 11 shots, but just didn't have the same quality ball in the circle to work with, as the Tactix won the quarter 17-9 to lead 47-29 at the three-quarter mark.
The Steel regathered in the final quarter, sparked by tireless centre Sam Winders, going on to win the spell 16-11 without ever looking like snatching an upset.
