Latest news with #DonnaWilkins
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: New 'mindset' sees Tactix get a crack at elusive title
The Tactix celebrate. Photo: Photosport The Tactix have earnt themselves their first grand final berth since 2021 after beating the Pulse 57-52 in last night's elimination final in Christchurch. They will meet the ANZ Premiership defending champion Mystics, the team that beat them by two goals in that 2021 final. And they believe Sunday's gutsy victory over the Pulse shows they are capable of winning a maiden title, which has been so elusive for the franchise. The Pulse had far better flow on attack than the home side to start with and led 14-10 after the first quarter. They pushed that lead out to six goals part way through the second quarter but the Tactix started to consolidate. When Silver Ferns defender Karin Burger shifted to goal defence, after starting at wing defence, the Tactix defensive end started to slow down ball into Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley. Maddy Gordon at wing attack was able to fire balls at will into Walmsley early on. Walmsley, who has had a tremendous season, looked on track to score 50-plus goals, having put up 29 in just the first half. But it was Tactix goal shoot Ellie Bird, who ended the game as the highest scorer, with 47. The veteran shooter became a better target as the game went on and Tactix coach Donna Wilkins said Bird just gained more confidence. "I think at times we can talk ourselves out of something and you know look she's playing against Kelly [Jackson] right so you know that's a pretty tough ask and she probably hasn't in the past performed as good as she could against Kelly but today she did. She was a bit scratchy to start with but by gosh she was awesome." Wilkins said. When Tactix goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit nailed a Super Shot on the halftime buzzer to get the home side within four, it also signalled a momentum shift. During the third quarter the Tactix defensive end really turned it on and disrupted the Pulse, which saw the home side win the period 15-10. Amelia Walmsley and Jane Watson (right) Photo: / John Davidson Captain Erikana Pedersen, playing in her 100th match for the Tactix, said the finals pressure was palpable. "And we felt that ... but I thought as cliché as it sounds it was literally a game of two halves. I thought we came out really strongly, we looked after our centre pass, the defence got us ball and we scored off it as well which really lifted us," Pedersen said. It took the Pulse 3.5 minutes to score in the final quarter. Amorangi Malesala came on at GA for the super shot period and nailed three in the dying minutes but it was too little too late. The Pulse made countless changes throughout the match in complete contrast to the Tactix, who finished with the same seven on court. It was a disappointing loss for the Pulse, who suffered a heartbreaking one goal loss in last year's grand final. "Disruptive" was the term used to describe their season as the side dealt with injury and illness. Perhaps the biggest blow was the loss of tenacious goal defence Parris Mason, due to a nasty neck injury suffered in round eight. Given that adversity, finishing third in the competition was not a bad effort. Wilkins acknowledged that the Tactix looked like a different side to the one that lost 56-70 to the Mystics in Auckland just a week ago. "And we didn't get a lot of ball last week and it was probably one of our worst performances collectively. But you learn more from losses and we had a really good week training, we worked on what we needed to work on and I think we brought that." Donna Wilkins Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Wilkins is in her first year as a head coach in the domestic league. The former Silver Fern and Tall Fern was a no-nonsense player in her day. Pedersen said there had definitely been a shift in the Tactix this year, and that was reflected in how they had been able to lift themselves after a loss. "I think our mentality has shifted and Donna this year has probably brought that ruthless mindset, growth mindset always wanting to be better. As a collective I thought we trained our butts off this week, we were coming off trainings exhausted but we knew that we needed to do that to prepare for this game because it was exhausting on the court. "I just love Donna's passion, you come into a huddle, you see that she wants it just as badly as we do. And there's nothing that gives up more confidence when you see a coach like that really lead us with confidence and passion. "I think that game was the best preparation we could have got leading into the final next week." The Tactix were runners up in 2020 and 2021. Wilkins said there was no reason they couldn't lift the title for the first time. "Just being in the final and having a chance ... we've given ourselves an opportunity, probably nobody will pick us ... but just going up there with nothing to lose. We know we can play better than last week [against the Mystics] and look out if we do get it all right on the night," Wilkins said. She said it was easy being around a group of people who wanted to perform and work hard. "Just giving those opportunities to people that want to play. You know we've got the experienced ones that are leading by example and working their butts off every game, you look at Te Paea and her workrate this year alone. "Erikana coming back from injury but managing to play every game so she can tick off that 100. Holly [Mather] coming in first year contract, she's been up and down but all she wanted today was to get ball and she got that one so the lift that she's going to get from that performance today to go into the final is massive." The Tactix and Mystics meet in the grand final on Sunday at 4pm in Auckland. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Still In Finals Hunt After Loss To Mystics
After winning all of their home games, the VIP Frame and Trusses Tactix hoped to come out on top in their Sunday showdown against the Northern Mystics in Auckland, but unfortunately the Tactix fell 70-56, making it their third loss out of ten games in the ANZ Premiership. The North / South Island derby played out in Auckland on Sunday with the top-of-the-table Mystics progressing straight to a home final, while the Tactix will play the Central Pulse in the elimination final decider, on Sunday 20 July at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch. The Tactix will still be hoping to bring a South Island presence to the grand final, making it the first time in four years that the franchise has had a chance to chase the championship, which would see them meet the Mystics for the third time in the season. When the teams met in Round Four the Tactix won 61-50 in Rangiora, but this time, the Mystics overpowered the visitors who needed to win by six points or more. Sunday's game saw head coach Donna Wilkins lead her team valiantly in their final effort, with the experience of Ellie Bird, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Erikana Pedersen, Karin Burger and Jane Watson shining through while Parris Petera, Holly Mather, Paris Lokotui, Charli Fidler and Martina Salmon showed grit and determination beyond their years. The team sought consistency outside the circle - taking time to feed the ball down the court, but five general play turnovers in the first quarter provided the Mystics with an early four point lead at quarter time, which the Tactix could not recover. As the Tactix settled into the game, they had to fight for the intercepts and to protect possession in order to claw back the points, but the cumulative pressure of the Mystics was too much for the visitors as the lead extended to eight points by half time, gaining close to 30 turnovers on the Tactix. Watson, Lokotui and Burger fought hard to shut down Mystics' attack. Coach Donna Wilkins chose to make on-court changes to shake up the team, with Ellie Bird and Holly Mather leaving the court in favour of Martina Salmon and Parris Petera entering the game as a fresh presence. Selby-Rickit made strides on attack, blocking her Mystics opponents from the centre pass, and was a dominant presence in the shooting circle, taking the Tactix' first two-point shot since Round 8. Debutant Josie Seymour, daughter of ex-Silver Fern and Tactix legacy player Julie Seymour, made her first on-court appearance for the Tactix this season, having joined the team from the National Netball League for the final two games of the season. The Tactix now prepare to take on the Pulse in the elimination final at Wolfbrook Arena, 7:30pm Sunday July 20. If the Tactix beat the Pulse in the elimination final, they will progress to playing the Mystics in the grand final at The Trust Arena in Auckland. Elimination final tickets will be available through Ticketmaster from 2pm Thursday July 17, with tickets starting from $17.80 for youths (2-18 years) and $33.80 for adults, while family packages (two adults, two youths) will start from $83.20.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Eye Sold-Out Home Game Against Mystics
North Canterbury is set to host a sold-out, top-of-the-table clash between the Tactix and Mystics as both sides fight to remain at the top of ANZ Premiership leaderboard. Sitting in first place, the Northern Mystics will be looking to secure a fourth season win, while the VIP Frame and Trusses Tactix look to harness their home advantage, when the teams meet at MainPower Stadium in Rangiora on Saturday. After two close back-to-back North Island challenges, the sold-out MainPower game has come at the perfect time in the season for Tactix head coach Donna Wilkins. 'The first few weeks have been tough, but we have had a good start to the season and we are ready to be back in front of our local crowd, we have missed the cheering Tactix fans!' Wilkins said. In training, the Tactix have been working on correcting in-game errors, with Wilkins pushing her team to fight hard for intercepts and protect ball possession, especially in the midcourt. 'We let the Magic get on top of us in errors last week, but to come away with the tight win - we know that when the pressure is on, we can pull back the game,' she said. With fewer games and new rules to adopt, Wilkins believes the new-look ANZ Premiership has proven that any team can walk away with a win. 'Each week, we have to bring our A-game, no win is guaranteed and when we look at the premiership leaderboard, there have been numerous close games and blow outs,' she said. The Mystics remain unbeaten in the 2025 competition, with shooter Donnell Wallam top point scorer, and top 2-pointer shooter; a challenge the Tactix are excited to meet head on. Fans can expect a strong defensive response, with Tactix vice-captain Karin Burger and international alumni Jane Watson demonstrating against the Stars, that they are adapting week-on-week to the fast and physical demands of the extended goal circle. 'With the change up with the 2-point rule for defence, we are now looking at forcing errors and getting rebounds but we will still have to get out (on the court) and fight for the ball and fight for the intercepts,' Burger said. A full Tactix squad is available to play in Rangiora, with captain Erikana Pedersen match fit after a preseason leg injury. While this week's clash has sold-out, there is coverage on TVNZ+ and Sky Sport delayed, while tickets for the Tactix v Pulse in Round 6 at Wolfbrook Arena 15 June are available via Ticketmaster.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
No Rest For The Tactix Ahead Of Round Three
Following the emphatic Round 2 loss, the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix have shifted focus to fixing key game aspects before taking on the Avis Magic in Hamilton on Sunday. After a Round 2 loss to the Stars, Head Coach Donna Wilkins has put her squad to work, knowing the northern rival cannot be underestimated, with the side expected to fight for Round 3 redemption. 'We know what it is like after a loss, but they are going to be back at home with their home crowd, so we have to follow our game plan and hopefully come out with the win,' Wilkins said. The leader has faith in her squad, and is choosing not to dwell on the loss to the Stars. 'We clawed back to within two points in the final minutes of the game, and we are still sitting in second place in the Premiership, it isn't all doom and gloom,' Wilkins said. Reflecting on the team's shortcomings in Round 2, Wilkins is calling for better ball possession and a stronger effort from defenders in securing rebounds. 'We had enough possession in the game to win it, but we didn't look after our possession, which is an easy fix and we are working on it this week,' she said. The Tactix and Magic have a long playing history, having met 42 times since 2008 with the Magic winning 25, the Tactix winning 16 including all matches (bar one) since 2022. The red and black side are eager to clinch a win but Tactix vice captain Karin Burger knows the Magic cannot be underestimated, after they took a 51-49 win over the Tactix in the penultimate round of the 2024 ANZ Premiership. 'With a short competition, we don't have time to muck around and we can fix aspects of the game asap because the Magic will be hurting after their loss, so I expect they will come out fighting,' Burger said. The 2-point rule has transformed aspects of the game, with the world-class defender adapting her game to forcing errors and getting rebounds, after the Stars got 100% of rebounds from the lucrative 2-point shot. 'We learn a lot from a loss, and now we know what we have to work harder to achieve. We will learn from the loss and fix the little things - which is really exciting, because when we do, we are going to have a really great game!'
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tactix Fend Off Gritty Steel To Claim First-up Win
11 May 2025 Former Silver Fern Donna Wilkins launched her elite level coaching career in the best possible fashion after steering VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix to a 57-50 win over a dogged Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in Christchurch on Sunday. Honouring the memory of the late Kelly Hutton, who passed away in 2023 from ovarian cancer, and her sister Megan Hutton, both former Canterbury representative with Megan also playing for the Steel, the Hutton Family Trophy was on the line for the first time. Taking time to find their feet, the Tactix took charge in the second half of the southern derby with more impetus on attack through their young midcourt pairing of Holly Mather and Parris Petera, a lively defensive contribution from Jane Watson and sure shooting from Martina Salmon. With the game delicately poised and the Tactix leading 42-41 at the last break it was still anyone's game, the Tactix making a telling push to forge a handy lead in the run home. With key Steel midcourter Kate Heffernan ruled out with injury and assistant coach Liana Leota named on the bench as cover, and shooter Aliyah Dunn, despite being sidelined for two minutes after dangerous play in the final quarter, but coming back to nail two two-pointers, the southerners remained well in the frame throughout. The young Steel team made a great fist of challenging the Tactix, whose greater experience proved decisive in the end. Respective goal shoots, Ellie Bird for the home side and Dunn, in her 100th national league match, suiting up in her hometown colours against her old team, were key figures through the first stanza with both returning blemish-free returns from one-point range. Neither side had any luck from the two-point arc, the new rule coming into play for the final five minutes of each quarter of matches this season, the Tactix making the most of their extra opportunities to head into the first break with a 14-10 lead. They were out of the blocks quickly on the resumption, scoring the first three goals before the Steel surged back into contention. With rangy new signing Carys Stythe making Bird earn her goals, the long reach of the defender, who made the move south during the off-season, grabbed a series of clutch turnover ball. With five goals on the trot, the Steel grew in confidence through their effective defensive pressure and sure flow through court, the experience of Kimiora Poi and rising young midcourter Serina Daunakamakama having a healthy impact. Drawing level 10 minutes in, Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan nailed two super shots to nudge the visitors into a 27-26 halftime lead. A revelation last season, Salmon was injected into the game for the Tactix for the second half alongside wing attack Petera as the teams went goal-for goal throughout a close contest, the shooter going on to have a telling impact. Crack defender Watson got some classic turnovers under the Steel hoop as the Tactix flexed their collective muscle, Salmon adding to the home team's impetus with a third quarter two-pointer to push their buffer out to five. In a tale for the ages, 40-year-old Steel assistant coach Leota was injected in at wing attack for the visitors for her 211th national league match after playing for several New Zealand and England franchises during a decorated career. Her presence had the desired result, helping the Steel make another concerted push, a two-pointer from Dunn leaving the match on a knife-edge when the Tactix took a 42-41 lead into the last turn.
