Tactix and Pulse lead the way at pre-season tournament
There was particular satisfaction for captain Jess Maclennan (nee Moulds) after the Silvermoon Tactix finished the Te Wānanga o Raukawa pre-season netball tournament, in Ōtaki, with a perfect record.
With all six ANZ Premiership teams taking part, the Tactix and Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse remained the only unbeaten teams when the three-day tournament ended on Sunday.
The tournament provided the last formal hit-out ahead of the start of the ANZ Premiership in two weeks with teams using the opportunity to fine-tune in a competition environment. Operating without their Silver Ferns, due to a mandatory two-week stand-down following the recent Commonwealth Games, teams took the opportunity to test their depth by giving their expanded squads plenty of court time.
It was a happy return, after 18 months on the injured list, for Maclennan, the hard-working Tactix defender and captain.
Sustaining a serious knee injury in late 2016, Maclennan showed her excitement at being back on deck fulltime with strong showings during an impressive Tactix presence at the pre-season tournament.
With the benefit of retaining a stable core from last season and astute off-season recruiting, Maclennan said the southerners had gained plenty from the weekend’s exposure.
``It has definitely been a valuable exercise, going out there and having a hit-out against three teams we haven’t played yet has been really rewarding for us,’’ she said. ``Each team’s thrown something different at us, so we’ve had to learn through each game which has been great.
``It’s been a really long pre-season, so we’ve just been chomping at the bit to get out there and actually play and now with the start just two weeks away, it’s all go from here.’’
With the frustration of being confined to the side-lines now in the past, Maclennan is delighted with how the Tactix team is progressing and taking shape.
``I’ve been really, really happy with the girls’ intensity and commitment,’’ she said. ``Everything they’re doing is with fervour and purpose. So far, everything we’ve been doing is great, there’s still lots to learn and lots to improve on but we’ve got a really exciting team.
``Personally, it’s been a long off-season for me. I’ve had 18 months off, so to actually be playing netball again, being in the thick of it and actually on court while also being able to lead on and off the court, I love it and really enjoying it.’’
The young Pulse team also delivered an encouraging pre-season to remain unbeaten, coach Yvette McCausland-Durie pleased with the continued improvement shown over the three days.
With the Silver Ferns set to return to their respective teams in time for first-round action on May 6, there is an element of the unknown about this year’s competition.
Tournament Results:
Steel 53 Mystics 44, Pulse 64 Magic 46, Tactix 55 Stars 52, Pulse 64 Steel 40, Magic 65 Stars 53, Tactix 54 Mystics 46, Pulse 48 Stars 29, Tactix 50 Magic 44, Steel 66 Stars 53, Pulse 59 Mystics 49.