IT was heartbreak for the Mainland Tactix and glee for Northern Stars as they prevailed in an overtime thriller (57-56). The Tactix led for majority of the game, but let the win slip through their fingers in the dying minutes as the Stars showcased their class to outplay their opponents and claim bragging rights.

The Tactix did not take long to hit the scoreboard as Te Paea Selby-Rickit opened their account nice and early to set the tone for the visitors. Up the other end, Maia Wilson was handed a warning in the opening two minutes of play with the goal shooter put on high alert. The defensive pressure was well and truly up for both sides with Karin Burger streaming through for a crafty intercept and Ellie Bird rewarding her for her efforts sneaking out to a two-goal lead. It was not easy by any means for either term to penetrate the defensive wall but the strength of both Bird and Wilson up opposing ends was providing some relief for the midcourters to release long looping passes into the circle. Burger came out with a point to prove for the Tactix with the goal defence getting hands to ball to disrupt the flow.

It was a stark contrast on transition between the two sides with the Stars flying down the court and the Tactix more laboured in attack. But that patient approach was paying dividends for the Tactix as they crept out to a four goal lead, happy to play the ball around and work their magic into the circle. Kimiora Poi was a focal point both in defence and attack for the Tactix using her speed around circle edge to drive the Tactix and extend their lead. The game started to slip away from the Stars as the deficit snuck out to six goals with their ability to find Wilson under the post really hindered. Things were not going the Stars’ way receiving a wealth of attention from the umpires as they doubled the Tactix’s penalty count. It turned into the walking wounded for the Tactix as Selby-Rickit joined Jane Watson on the bench in the dying seconds of the term.

Watson returned to the court after being patched up while Hannah Glen continued her way out in goal attack for the Tactix. It started to pick up in attack for the Stars with Jamie Hume shouldering the load and lending a hand in defence to win ball back. Gina Crampton also came to life with the wing attack using her speed to dart down the court. It was a show of the wing attacks as Samon Nathan led the troops in attack for the Tactix with her drive to the top of the circle and vision enabling her to sight Bird with great ease under the post. it was turning into a goal for goal rhythm with the four goal buffer unable to be disturbed.

Greer Sinclair got the start in wing defence but Lisa Mather was soon injected into the thick of things for the Stars with her experience coming to the fore. The long arms of Anna Harrison and presence of Elle Temu was starting to get in the heads of both Bird and Selby-Rickit as the Tactix goalers looked to swing the ball around to find better positioning. The pendulum once again swung back in favour of the Tactix with a couple of errant and forced passes landing in the lap of Watson as the visitors re-established their six-goal lead. The Stars were putting themselves in a world of pain while the Tactix motored on to a game-high eight-goal lead with a tick over five minutes to play. A late rally from the Stars enabled them to get themselves back in the game as they went on a three goal run only to only face a four goal deficit heading into half-time.

The second half continued with the same level of intensity with neither side willing to give an inch. The Stars made a couple of positional changes as Temu pushed out to goal defence and Harrison dropped back into goal keeper. Direct passages of play from both attacking units dictated the term but the Tactix landed the first blow sinking two consecutive goals to extend the lead to seven goals. But just as things started to fall the way of the Tactix the Stars pulled rank inching their way back into the contest. Wilson started to come to life and the home side were back within three goals for the first time since the opening term. It did not stop there as the top of the table side upped the ante with only one goal separating the two sides.

Mila Reuelu-Buchanan worked her way into the match with her punchy drives in attack allowing her to steer the ship for the Stars. Her partnership with Crampton was coming to the fore as the Stars started to really hum in attack. It was a game of inches as both sides capitalised on their centre pass but the Stars looked more dangerous in defence with the trio in Harrison, Temu and Mather all out hunting and causing disruption. Selby-Rickit landed a shot after the whistle but it did not count as the Tactix held a skinny three-goal lead.

With it all to play for in the final term, players and fans alike sat with bated breath. The intensity was high as the tensions rose with every single pass. The Stars somehow found another gear to kick up into with Temu impressing with her cleanliness to steal the ball in defence and propel her side into attack. big defensive wins started to go the way of the Stars as Hume found her range again to forge her side ahead. The back-up play from Charlotte Elley was imperative in winning ball back for the Tactix as they once again levelled the scores. Northern Stars pushed out to as much as three goals ahead but the never-say-die attitude from the Tactix kept them in the hunt. The seesawing affair continued with the Tactix afforded a chance to win but a missed shot from Selby-Rickit left the game at 51 goals apiece.

Overtime did not disappoint with each and every player leaving nothing to chance. Wilson landed the first blow before Hume sent fans into a frenzy with a huge intercept and shooter to shooter interplay to give the Stars the first break of overtime. Playing with a real pep in their step the Stars controlled proceedings and while the Tactix had moments simply could not match the energy of the Stars as they stole a one goal victory.

Wilson finished the match with 38 goals from 40 attempts while Hume redeemed herself thanks to some impressive fourth quarter shooting to walk away with 19 goals at 76 per cent. Crampton was electric amassing 26 goals assists as the defensive pairing of Temu and Harrison was once again on fire as they combined for seven gains with the former collecting four intercepts. Bird was unstoppable with her 45 goals at 92 per cent as Selby-Rickit dictated the flow out the front with her 13 goal assists and 10 goals. Nathan was influential with her 24 goal assists as Burger had her best game to date thanks to her seven gains and three intercepts.