IT was a frantic finish to the final game of Round 3 in the ANZ Premiership but that did not seem to faze Northern Mystics goaler Grace Nweke who slotted the match-winning goal against Mainland Tactix. The lead ebbed and flowed throughout the game but it was not until the final seconds that the winner was decided highlighting the intensity of the match.

Both sides took some time to settle into the game with a couple of errant shots dictating the rhythm of play as Nweke missed her first shot and Jess Prosser did the same down the other end of the court. The attacking unit seemed somewhat disjointed for the Tactix as a wealth of passes went astray and held ball calls gifted the Mystics a chance to capitalise. The Mystics were playing with complete freedom across the court, threading the needle with great ease and establishing a handy three goal lead to open proceedings. Costly turnovers plagued the Tactix especially through transition and in attack as both Jane Watson and Karin Burger worked in overdrive down back to nullify the ball speed and provide opportunities for their side to win ball.

There was no love lost between Ellie Bird and Sulu Fitzpatrick with the duo battling for each and every pass. Fitzpatrick managed to push Bird out of position with her fancy footwork and bodywork to make Bird somewhat uncomfortable under the post which was a major hindrance for the Tactix as they laboured in attack. The Mystics seemed to do no wrong with Peta Toeava running amok both in attack and defence, getting hands to ball on the transverse line to force a turnover and then stream down the court and into attack. Pushing out to a six goal lead, Mystics wing defence Fa’amu Ioane imposed herself with her defensive craft around circle edge to get a hand in and force a turnover. With their tails up the Mystics put their foot down in the final minute of the game with their speed through the midcourt causing headaches aplenty.

The shaky start to the game continued into the second quarter with both sides throwing ball away and unable to travel down the court with any sort of fluidity. But the Tactix had an ace up their sleeve with Te Paea Selby-Rickit making her highly anticipated return from a foot injury. Although she missed her first shot of the game, her rebounding ability came to the fore as she gobbled it up and slotted her next attempt. The Tactix attacking unit looked more composed with Selby-Rickit out the front despite their accuracy faltering. The increased workload from Charlotte Elley was integral in slowing Toeava down in the Mystics frontend while the double team defence from Watson and Burger on Nweke enabled them to win ball back.

Momentum started to swing in favour of the Tactix as they got back within three goals as Erikana Pedersen and Kimiora Poi took charge through the midcourt, getting on top of Tayla Earle and Ioane. It was an incredibly scrappy quarter but that provided a chance for the Tactix to build confidence as they sliced the lead to one goal. With Selby-Rickit impressing in goal attack for the Tactix, Bailey Mes showcased her class down the other end with a bullet like pass into Nweke to keep their noses in front. After levelling the scores at the two minute mark, Mystics hit back converting off a turnover thanks to their zippy ball movement but it then turned into a good old fashioned shootout with both sides going goal for goal.

The Mystics established a two goal lead in the dying seconds of the second quarter but the Tactix came out with a point to prove in the third nailing the first two goals of the quarter to level the scores once more. This goal for goal dance continued throughout the term as neither side could get much separation both on court and on the scoreboard. Nweke’s presence seemed to be the real gamechanger under the post for the Mystics while Kate Burley got involved in the action spurring her side on to create a four goal lead once again.

With play getting a little bit scrappy once again, the umpire took an unconventional approach to tidy things up, calling over both captains in Watson and Fitzpatrick to address their troops in relation to reducing the number of obstruction and contact calls. Both sides came out of the chat with a renewed sense of calmness but that did not take the heat out of the game with defensive plays from Watson and Earle dictating the final minutes.

With the game on the line the Mystics rung in the defensive changes as Ama Agbeze pulled on the goal keeper bib and Fitzpatrick went out into goal defence. The Mystics once again snuck out a five goal lead as the frontend opened up thanks to their precise ball movement and placement into the circle. A huge intercept from Elley propelled the ball into attack for the Tactix as Bird nailed a couple of consecutive goals. But the fancy footwork and strength of Nweke took centre stage as she slotted the match winning goal off balance and falling out of court with a second on the clock.

Bird managed 39 goals from 45 attempts at 87 per cent and while Selby-Rickit was less than accurate at 56 per cent her 10 goals and nine goal assists played an integral role. Poi led the charge with 17 goal assists while both Burger and Watson picked up two and three gains respectively. Nweke was the go-to girl with 49 goals at 88 per cent while Toeava proved to have the ball on a string with 21 goal assists and 13 centre pass receives. Fitzpatrick was a menace in defence amassing six gains and three intercepts.