Match Preview: Steel v Tactix
TEAM NEWS:
The Silvermoon Tactix have clocked up a few airpoints in the past week with the visit to Invercargill for Super Sunday, a trip to Auckland where they lost to the SKYCITY Mystics before returning to Dunedin where they will meet the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel.
It is a tough ask for the Tactix and their first hurdle will be a mental one as they attempt to bury the 49-goal loss they suffered to the Steel in Round 4.
“Onwards and upwards” has been the catch-cry from the Tactix since then and they will need to do both if they are to stop Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid from adding more ink into the record books.
They looked to have made progress against the Northern Stars and even the first quarter against the Mystics – before old habits returned.
All eyes will be on the Steel however wondering if they will be eyeing the record books again or will coach Reinga Bloxham use the match against the Tactix to give extensive court time to her bench players.
They remain unbeaten but captain Wendy Frew felt they had plenty to work on after being pushed hard by Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse in Round 6.
WHO TO WATCH:
Jane Watson (Steel) – it was not just the four deflections and three intercepts which Watson took against the Pulse that showed she is one of the country’s leading defenders, but the way her long limbs shut down so many attacking opportunities for her opposition which makes her tough to beat.
Hayley Saunders (Tactix) versus Gina Crampton (Steel) – Crampton turned out one of her best performances of the season last week, finding the circle edge with ease and showing a great delivery to her shooters.Saunders will be tasked with shutting her down.
Nicola Mackle (Tactix) – the hard working centre goes about her work with little fanfare, needing to put in plenty of mileage up front with no easy passage through to one of the shorter shooting circles in the league.A tough ask against Shannon Francois.
HOW TO WATCH:
NZ-based fans can tune into SKY Sport 2 to catch all the action live from 2pm. International fans (outside NZ) can watch all the action live on the ANZ Premiership Facebook page.
PLUS: tune into the ANZ Premiership Facebook page from 1.30pm for #ANZP LIVE. This week’s episode will be hosted by Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby and feature Dame Lois Muir.