Mainland Tactix rue one that got away as Northern Mystics inch closer to home final

Sunday, 7 June 2026

In the space of seven days, the Mainland Tactix have gone from thoughts of hosting a grand final to the possibility of hitting the road for an elimination final.

For the second straight week, the red-hot Northern Mystics prevailed in extra-time to bank a precious 53-51 win over the Tactix in Saturday’s grand final rematch in Christchurch.

In doing so, the Mystics ended the Tactix run of 10 straight home victories on their home court.

This was the sixth successive win for the Mystics and gives them a crucial two point buffer over the Tactix on the table with one round to go.

Beat the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in their last round game on Saturday and the Mystics would clinch first place and direct entry to the June 27 grand final, which they would host in Auckland.

When the Tactix go back and revisit the tape they will lament a game they should have won, which would have put them in the driver’s seat for a first home grand final in their history.

The Tactix were left to rue 23 general play turnovers and their 77% shooting accuracy, compared to the Mystics, who converted 87% with five fewer attempts.

A second loss in as many weeks leaves the defending champion Tactix needing to win their final round game against the Southern Steel in Invercargill next Sunday to avoid finishing third. Another trip south to face the Steel could await them in the elimination final (two versus three) if they lose again in the final round.

The Steel kept the pressure on the Tactix, leapfrogging them into second on the table after overcoming the Stars 71-59 in Auckland on Sunday.

Having sat top of the table for much of the season, the Tactix desperately need to find their ruthless edge and accuracy in the key moments ahead of their crunch clash with the Steel.

The Mystics have had to do it the hard way the past two weeks. They powered past the Steel in the two three-minute half extra-time phase last Sunday, and then won in extra-time again, holding off the Tactix in front of a parochial 5024 sell out at Wolfbrook Arena.

Two memorable extra-time triumphs in back-to-back weeks have quickly turned the Mystics into title frontrunners.

Leading by five (40-35) entering the final term, the Tactix made some sloppy mistakes, allowing the Mystics to score four unanswered goals and go on a 6-1 run.

Late in the game, Amorangi Malesala had a chance to put the red-and-blacks up by three, but could not connect. Peta Toeava then won a pivotal turnover for the Mystics with 30 seconds left, which Maia Wilson scored from to tie the game.

Tactix goal shoot Charlie Bell missed three of her four attempts in the final quarter with the Mystics outscoring them 13-8.

Malesala had another crucial miss with the Mystics clinging to a 51-50 lead in extra-time. The Mystics capitalised with Wilson and Filda Vui scoring back-to-back goals to give them a three-goal advantage, which was the game.

In Saturday’s other game, the Magic made it back-to-back victories, demolishing the Central Pulse in the second half to win 50-39 in Hamilton.

Seven days after ending their 356-day, 12-game losing run, dating back to last year, the Magic again emerged victorious.

The Pulse took a 26-20 lead into halftime, but it was all the Magic in the second half, outscoring them 30-13. That included an emphatic 18-4 final quarter, where the Pulse coughed the ball up nine times and had just six attempts at goal.

It was the perfect way for the Magic to honour veteran defender Erena Mikaere with the 37-year-old, who played two tests for the Silver Ferns in 2019, celebrating her 150th national league match.

The Magic move to seven competition points, one behind the Pulse. They could hand them the wooden spoon with an upset win over the in-form Mystics in the final round, and another Pulse loss.

Meanwhile, the Steel bounced back from an extra-time loss to the Mystics last round, handing the Stars their fifth straight loss.

With Silver Ferns midcourter Kimiora Poi ruled out for the rest of the premiership season this week, the Steel managed to get the job done on the road. Wendy Frew’s side pulled away from the Stars, again missing Fern Mila Reuelu-Buchanan with a “grumpy meniscus”, delivering a powerful second half.

Aliyah Dunn produced another dominant outing in the Steel shooting end, landing 55 from 56, including a two point effort.

ANZ Premiership points

Mystics 22, Steel 21, Tactix 20, Stars 12, Pulse 8, Magic 7.