Tactix vice captain side-lined through injury

Silvermoon Tactix defender Zoe Walker has been ruled out for the remainder of the ANZ Premiership with a knee injury.

The Silver Ferns Development Squad member has played just one game this season before being forced to focus on rehabilitation after suffering an injury to her left knee.

She is the second defender the Tactix have lost this season after captain Jess Maclennan suffered a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right-knee in May and was forced to the side-lines for the remainder of the campaign.

Walker, who covers all three defensive positions and was last year named in the Fast5 Ferns, has been replaced by Lily Marshall who is a member of the Heller’s Mainland team competing in the Beko Netball League.

Marshall is also a former New Zealand Secondary Schools defender and made a brief appearance for the Tactix earlier this year on the wing.

Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said it was a blow for Walker who had been working hard to regain her fitness before the end of the season.

“Zoe has really focused on rehabilitation since injuring her knee in the early games of the season, so this announcement is especially hard for her,” she said.

“As a team the Silvermoon Tactix has already had to overcome the loss of their captain and to now confirm Zoe’s absence on court for the rest of the season is a blow.

“We are fortunate to have the depth in our squad and Lily’s inclusion is an opportunity for both her and us as coaches to bring something different to the mix.”

Delaney-Hoshek said both Walker and Maclennan were still an important part of the squad offering their support off the court.

The Tactix are sitting in third place on the Premiership ladder and head to Invercargill for Round 11 where they take on the Southern Steel on Monday night.