Tactix extend winning run at home to 10 matches in round six of ANZ Premiership

Sunday, 17 May 2026

So much for 2026 being a rebuilding year for the Mainland Tactix.

Even with their title-winning squad ravaged in the off-season, the defending champion Tactix have picked up where they left off last season.

They made it five wins from six starts on Saturday, crushing the winless Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 58-37 in the Tactix first match at the Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre in central Christchurch.

In doing so, the Tactix remain top of the ANZ Premiership table through six rounds and extended their impressive home winning run to 10 games. The last time the Tactix tasted defeat on their home court was in the elimination final in July 2024 at Wolfbrook Arena, their main home venue, when Grace Nweke shot the lights out to lead the Mystics into the grand final.

Most netball pundits thought the Tactix would struggle this season with the heart and soul ripped out of last year’s championship-winning side. The Tactix lost seven of their 10 contracted players and their first-choice shooting and defensive end combinations.

Without star defensive duo Karin Burger and Jane Watson (who both headed to Australia’s Super Netball) and shooters Ellie Bird (retired), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Super Netball) and Martina Salmon (Stars) it looked like it might be a rebuilding year.

Under the expertise of second year Tactix coach Donna Wilkins, the former Silver Ferns and Tall Ferns standout, the red-and-blacks have been just as threatening, even with a vastly-altered squad and no Silver Ferns stars. They have also been without starting wing attack and captain Erikana Pedersen for the past three matches with a shoulder injury, but have managed to overcome her key absence.

Against the lowly Magic, who are down on confidence, the Tactix bossed the contest winning every quarter on their way to an emphatic 21-goal victory. In three of the quarters, the Magic did not even get to 10 goals such was the suffocating defensive pressure of the Tactix.

These are difficult times for the Magic, once the pre-eminent domestic netball team in New Zealand, then loaded with Silver Ferns. The Waikato-Bay of Plenty side have lost all six games this season and 11 on the trot dating back to last year.

There is no faulting the effort of the Magic, but compared to the other five teams they lack true difference-makers and have the least star-power of any team. Four of their six losses this season have been by 13 goals or more with two by 20-plus margins.

The Tactix had 16 more attempts at goal and profited from 25 general play turnovers from the Magic.

Australian goal shoot Charlie Bell was used off the bench for the second straight week for the Tactix, but still converted a perfect 27 from 27. Another Australian, defender Ash Barnett, again showed why she is one of the best players in the premiership with a mighty defensive showing.

Barnett who has been some off-season find, unwanted by the Queensland Firebirds, snaffled six deflections, two intercepts, to go with seven gains.

Former Silver Ferns captain Gina Crampton, who linked with the Tactix this week on a two-week injury replacement contract for Pedersen, got 15 minutes of court time in the win.

In Saturday’s other match, the Mystics gained revenge on the Stars, who beat them in the first crosstown Auckland battle of the season in week one, winning 57-51.

It was the third straight win for the Mystics, who have turned the corner after a poor home loss to the Steel in round three. For the Stars, it was their second successive loss, leaving them outside the top three with four rounds left.

The Stars were left to lament a sloppy second quarter, where they were outscored 20-8. They would have been bitterly disappointed after starting well and leading 16-11 after the opening term. The Mystics took a 44-41 lead into the final 15 minutes and pushed away late after the Stars had closed it back to three with seven minutes to play.

In Sunday’s clash, the Steel continued their red-hot play, winning their fifth straight, overcoming the Pulse 52-43 at a sold out TSB Arena in Wellington.

For the Pulse, it all but ended their top three finals hopes, falling to their fifth loss on the bounce after winning their season opener against the Magic.

Victory lifted the Steel to first equal with the Tactix on 15 competition points, two clear of the third placed Mystics.

Goal shoot Aliyah Dunn had another memorable outing for the Steel, landing a perfect 34 from 34 against her former Pulse side, who she played for from 2018-22.

ANZ Premiership – points after round six

Tactix 15, Steel 15, Mystics 13, Stars 10, Pulse 5, Magic 0