2025 ANZ Premiership – Elimination Final

We take a look at this Sunday’s ANZ Premiership Elimination Final between VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix and Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in Christchurch.

Sunday, 20 July

Tactix v Pulse, 7.30pm at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch

Talking points:

• It is one apiece heading into this Elimination Final with the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix beating Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse by 11 in Christchurch in Round 6 while the Pulse got the better of the Mainlanders by nine points in Round 8 in Wellington.  Will the Tactix have taken a confidence blow after a disappointing showing against the Mystics last week or will both ends fire against a well-drilled Pulse side who have strike weapons in captain Kelly Jackson and shooter Amelia Walmsley.
  
  
• The Tactix frontline look laboured against the Mystics last week and they struggled to get the ball into the hands of Ellie Bird, who was accurate but just didn’t receive enough possession.  Much relies on veteran goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit who will play her 180^th national league match on Sunday night.  Plenty lies on her shoulders, something the Pulse will know well having kept the attacker quiet when they won in Wellington last month.  Selby-Rickit has filled the role for all but five minutes of the season and an Elimination Final may not be the time to tamper with the set-up.  Martina Salmon has been favoured in the shooting position to team up with Selby-Rickit during both games against the Pulse this year.
  
  
• From training partner with the Magic in preseason, to super shot specialist with the Pulse – Amorangi Malesala has played an influential role for her new team this season. She secured their win over the Magic last week with a two-point stunner and brings plenty to the Pulse shooting circle.  Malesala said there was a sense of “relief” after the win and the victory was for defender Parris Mason who was sidelined through injury.  The Tactix will be keeping one eye on Amelia Walmsley, who is leading the league in both volume and accuracy, but must also watch for the injection of Malesala late in the quarter.

Final thought:

The Pulse must go into this match as favourites having beaten the Tactix by nine late last month but working in the red-and-blacks favour is their ability to win at home this season, having kept their record clean while playing in the Mainland.  Will the home crowd be enough to turn around a nine-goal difference or will Walmsley’s hot hand push the visitors into the Grand Final?