On a weekend where the Crusaders took out the Super Rugby, the Tactix solidified their ANZ premiership title hopes, taking down the one team that has beaten them this season.
Donna Wilkin’s side made it six victories from seven games, overpowering their Round 2 winning rival, the Go Media Stars 61-53 in Christchurch on Sunday.
Last time the two teams met, the Stars walked away with their only win of the season, and by comparison, Sunday’s eight point win was a comfortable winning margin for the Tactix against the Auckland side.
Tactix coach Donna Wilkins has stuck largely with the same line during the first half of the season with only the goal shooters switching – Martina Salmon favoured in the win against the Pulse but Wilkins started Ellie Bird against the Stars.
For this week’s challenge, Bird and Selby-Rickit started in goalshoot and goal attack, Bird’s height advantage coming into play with the pair retaining their usual flair for fast feeds into the circle.
Defensively, the team put the wall up with Watson, Burger and Lokotui putting the pressure on the Stars from the first whistle.
A stunning early intercept from Watson showed that the defenders were out to show early domination and got the team one point ahead, with the veteran disrupting the Stars goal circle with an additional ball steal in the first 15 minutes.
The Stars put early pressure on the home side, with the Tactix struggling to rise to their usual speed, but by the end of the first quarter, the side had found their flow extending to a nine point lead.
During a strategic timeout from the Tactix in the second quarter, Wilkins urged the side to keep their heads up and hunt out the ball while making a strategic substitution putting Martina Salmon into goalshoot, giving Bird a chance to refresh before returning in for the second half.
The Stars won the third quarter by one point, with the Tactix giving away one quarter to their opposition in each of their winning matches of the 2025 season.
By the closing quarter, Wilkins was willing to try a different defensive combination with Charli Fidler entering the game at goalkeep, Watson moving to goal defense and Burger to wing defence while Paris Lokotui exited the match.
The Stars reacted by posting five two point shots in close succession bringing them within eight points of the Tactix by the closing whistle.
Wilkins explained the close finish as the Tactix achieving their goal for the night, getting all players out on the court.
“We were a bit scratchy in the second half, and we will be reviewing the game but it was good to get all ten players out there.”
