The ANZ premiership has entered the ninth week of play, and the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix have their eyes on a win against the Magic as they stride towards securing a top three spot, and a chance to play in the elusive final.
For head coach Donna Wilkins, last week’s loss to the Pulse was hard but she is happy with her side who have been working hard in training and taking the learnings from the defeat.
“It was a hard one, the Pulse badly wanted the game and our second quarter was not up to scratch with nine turnovers that had a big impact. So we have to fix that and win on Monday, it is do or die for us, we want to secure a spot in the finals ahead,” Wilkins said.
When the Tactix last met the Magic in Round 3, the South Island side took the win 48-44 in Hamilton, representing the Tactix 25th win against their northern rival.
Heading into Monday night's game, Wilkins can breathe a sigh of relief that her team is heading into Round 9 injury-free.
“Everyone is fit and ready to go, we have a strong ten-player squad and we will be taking a couple of extras to the game as well, and to have everyone to select from is massive at this point in the competition,” she said.
Tactix senior player Te Paea Selby-Rickit expects the Magic will be out for a win just like the Pulse were, and the fifth placed team cannot be underestimated.
“The Pulse were desperate for the win and we didn’t do our jobs on attack and defence, so now we work on those connections so we can get more ball on attack and defence in the next game,” Selby-Rickit said.
Having played 177 National League games and holding the title of Tactix most capped (current) player, Selby-Rickit takes her role within the team to heart, both on and off the court.
“I like to be a leader down our end of the court (on attack), and we are desperate for the final at home,” she said.
If the Tactix were to make the final, this would be the team’s third attempt at taking the Premiership but Selby-Rickit said the team is focusing on taking the weekly wins first.
“We just worry about our own game, and turning up for our home crowd. We have to win to secure top-3 and to secure the final and we are ready to defend our home court.”
