Hungry is how The Good Oil Tactix midcourter Charlotte Elley describes her team looking ahead to their ANZ Premiership rematch with the Northern Mystics.
The Tactix came away with a bonus point in the five-goal loss to their northern opponents last week and Elley said the side couldn’t wait to have a second crack when they head to the Auckland Netball Centre on Sunday.
“It was a bit frustrating not to get that win,” she said. “But it’s fresh in our mind of what worked and what didn’t work and we get to review our own game against them which is cool.”
Elley has one of the toughest jobs on court being tasked with shutting down Mystics’ playmaker Peta Toeava, but the wing defence has been at her dogged best in recent weeks and relished the challenge.
“She’s so quick off the mark, her pass and cut, and she just controls that attack end,” Elley said of Toeava. “But I just look at it as a challenge which is exciting.”
Toeava’s magic hands have a seamless link to exciting young shooter Grace Nweke and Elley says she knows when her opposite has found her mark in the shooting circle.
“She just lets that cheeky ball go with a cheeky wee smile and you’re just like ‘damn, she’s got it in to Grace,” Elley said with a laugh.
The Tactix defensive unit did enough to disrupt the Mystics’ flow up front with Temalisi Fakahokotau and Jane Watson picking up 10 deflections and two intercepts between them thanks to hustle outside from both Elley and Kimiora Poi.
“From what it felt like out there, I think Kimi and I probably switched enough to not have to run around like headless chicks every second,” Elley said. “I think we worked well as a unit – we know it’s a team game and you can’t do it by yourself.”
The Tactix remain in the hunt for a top-two finish but with a points gap starting to emerge between the Pulse and Mystics and the rest of the league, Elley said they were wary of making each moment on court count.
As the ANZ Premiership approaches the midway mark, the Tactix will review what they have done so far and “reset our focusses” in what is another big weekend with a double-header against the Mystics followed by the Magic just 24 hours later – a team they beat late last month.
“We’re always aiming for that (top two) and we obviously want to get the most points we can every time we step on court,” Elley said.
They have made big leaps forward in their connections through court and remain a constant threat in what has become a congested Premiership ladder.
Elley feels they improve with every outing and with more double-headers scheduled for the second half of the league; there will be plenty of time to make their mark in a push for a finals spot.
“I think overall we’ll just want to treasure our ball that we gain and make the most of our turnover score and centre pass score,” she said.
Personal goals for the former New Zealand Under-21 world champion are quite simple in what is her fifth season with the Tactix.
“I just want to put out my best netball,” she said. “A couple of weeks ago I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face because we were back playing, so I just want to go out there and enjoy it and that’s when I think I play my best netball – when I’m having a good time.”
Tickets are selling fast for The Good Oil Tactix’s only home venue match of the 2020 ANZ Premiership season on 30 July at Horncastle Arena at 7pm against the Robinhood Northern Stars. To secure your seat click here.
