Game Detail // ANZ Championship 2008

Round Name: Round 2 Starting Date: 12/4/2008

Team			v	Team		Location	Date/Time
	» Tactix	50	v.	» Swifts	44	Westpac Arena, Christchurch	12/04/2008 2:30 PM

	SKY Sport Time:	14:30
	ONE Time:	12:30
	Umpire 1:	Mandy Nottingham
	Umpire 2:	Pauline Sciascia
	Reserve Umpire:	David Pala'amo

Game Report:

In a masterful showing, Canterbury`s Skope Tactix pulled off a stunning 50-44 win over the NSW Swifts in ANZ Championship netball action in Christchurch today.

Unheralded pre-season, the Tactix put the heat on one of the competition�s more fancied teams from the outset to remain unbeaten after two rounds. Shooting proved the major difference today with the Tactix Jodi Brown and Anna Thompson excelling. The timing and accuracy of Brown and Thompson was the vital component in setting up the win. A big defensive effort through the court also paid dividends for the Tactix, who denied the Swifts any momentum through court to disrupt their game plan. The home team made the most of their early opportunities through Thompson and Brown, who did not miss a shot between them in the opening 15 minutes.

In comparison, the Swifts were only going at 65 percent, their Australian shooting duo of Catherine Cox and Susan Pratley struggling with the long arms and close attention of the Tactix` own Australian defensive pair, Demelza Fellowes and Victoria Smith.

Tactix continued to build on their 16-11 first quarter advantage with more purposeful flow on attack and dogged determination on defence to retain their edge through the second spell. The Swifts laboured throughout the first half with their midcourt flow, struggling with the Tactix zonal defence as the pace lifted. With thrills and spills aplenty on both sides, the Tactix retained their poise with a mix of patience and flowing play to head into a 29-24 halftime lead on the back of some pinpoint shooting from Brown.

Showing more intent, the Swifts came out strongly in the third quarter as they reeled in the deficit. Cox refound her shooting touch while her team was also more punishing on defence, picking up a clutch of intercepts to stay well in touch. Brown found herself under closer scrutiny as the Swifts defence looked to shut her down and this initially paid off for the visitors.

The Swifts drew to within one goal in a swinging third quarter which was punctuated by a rash of turnover ball. The Tactix regained their early control to finish the quarter with a flourish as they held their five-goal advantage with a handy 39-34 lead going into the final 15 minutes. The usually reliable Cox and Pratley were not on-song and produced a mixed showing under the hoop today, faltering when in a position to threaten. The Tactix in-circle defensive duo of Fellowes and Smith had a day to savour as they overshadowed their more illustrious counterparts. The turnovers continued to flow during an intense run down the home straight but the Swifts, unable to play their pacey game failed to make an impression and were generally outplayed by a better Tactix team.