In a gripping top of the table clash the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix and GoSweetSpot Mystics head into extra time, the home side coming away with a bonus point after losing by just two points.
The Tactix lead by five heading into the final quarter and in front of a 5000-strong home crowd, the last 15 minutes had a bit of everything, including two tactical timeouts, intercepts and immense defensive pressure.
The rallying cry from the Mystics paid off when they produced a forceful fourth quarter response, to level the scores up at 48-all at the end of regular time then nosing ahead by two goals set up a 5-3 winning margin for the visitors in extra time. For the Tactix, a bonus point in the bag and already confirmed in the Finals Series, all is not lost.
With no changes throughout the game from the starting line up, Charlie Bell remained at goal shoot for the entire 66 minutes, managing the defensive pressure from Mystics captain in goal defence. Gina Crampton proved invaluable with 24 goal assists, the highest across the board, and Amorangi Malesala took control with four general play turnovers.
The match lived up to expectations from the outset, with the lead changing hands several times in an intense and absorbing arm-wrestle. Both teams executed well on attack before the respective defence ends tightened the screws.
As space became harder to find, patience and precision through the midcourt became increasingly important. Holly Mather was influential for the Tactix, calmly directing play and delivering quality ball into the shooting circle despite the relentless pressure.
With neither side taking a backward step, the scores remained deadlocked at 12-all at the first break.
Scoring the opening two goals on the resumption, the Mystics held the slightest of edges in the second stanza.
Measured on attack, a big lift from the dynamic Tactix defensive trio of Fa’amu Muliaga, Laura Balmer and Ash Barnett swung momentum back in the home side’s favour. The circle defence pair picked up eight deflections between them to be a disruptive influence.
Finding an extra gear, the Tactix levelled up inside the last three minutes before holding their opponents at bay to forge the slimmest of leads when heading to the main break 26-25.
The visitors regained the lead early in the piece before the Tactix delivered a decisive response to make the first clear-cut break of the match.
The contest remained riveting and the intensity unabated but the perfectly employed high ball into the towering Bell, who was rock-solid, paid dividends while at the other end, the constant hustle from the rangy and roaming Barnett and Balmer proved key.
The Tactix kept the scoreboard ticking over while untimely lapses eroded the Mystics challenge. Stretching out to the biggest margin of the game, it was all the Tactix, who pushed out to a 40-35 lead before the last quarter.
