AFTER multiple weeks off and having only played two games in five rounds, Northern Stars made up for lost time with an impressive 12-goal win over Mainland Tactix to kickoff Round 6 of action. The Stars won all five quarters in a strong performance, taking the victory on the road with a 63-51 result. Mila Reuelu-Buchanan earned Player of the Match in the win, thanks to her 21 goal assists and two intercepts, with the Stars taking home the Hanmer Springs Trophy.

Though starting off with some inaccuracy (15 goals from 22 attempts), the Stars took a three-goal advantage into the first break. Maia Wilson (10 from 13) and Amorangi Malesala (five from nine) were combining well despite their misses, with Gina Crampton recording six goal assists. The inaccuracy in shooting was largely caused due to the pressure from the Tactix defensive duo, Kelera Nawai-Caucau and Karin Burger who picked up a combined three intercepts.

Up the other end, Ellie Bird shot a perfect 10 goals from 10 attempts, whilst Te Paea Selby-Rickit (two from three) also had six goal assists from six feeds. Trading goal for goal throughout the term, the Tactix kept within a goal after scoring three of the first four to start the term. The Stars chose to give Silver Ferns defender Kayla Johnson a rest, with Elle Temu coming on, whilst the Tactix gave Jess Maclennan a chance at goal keeper, replacing Nawai-Caucau, whilst later Samon Nathan had a rest and Lily Fletcher got her chance at wing defence.

The changes went the way of the Strs, who again despite some inaccuracy, managed to build it up to as much as an eight-goal lead with a couple of minutes to play. Scoring the final three goals of the term, Bird ensured the Tactix remained in touch at the main break, trailing 26-31. Crampton was up to 14 goal assists, with Reuelu-Buchanan having the nine at half-time, whilst Anna Harrison was ensuring her younger opponent Bird had to work for every goal.

Nathan returned to the court at wing attack for the Tactix to start the third term, whilst Johnson came back on in wing defence for the Stars. Building a stronger lead with five of the first seven goals, the Stars again took an eight-goal buffer three minutes into the match, before the Tactix hit back with four consecutive goals of their own to cut it back to four. The momentum swings continued throughout the term, but with the final three goas going the way of Wilson, it mean the Stars yet again extended their lead, this time out to seven goals.

Reuelu-Buchanan and Crampton were well on top in the midcourt combining for 13 goal assts off 25 feeds, as the Stars shooters were getting more opportunities. Wilson shot 11 from 12 in the term, with Jamie Hume (five from eight) contributing. Burger was doing well opposed to Hume, whilst Temu limited Selby-Rickit to seven goals, the same amount as Bird in the third term.

Despite being in front by seven, the Stars shuffled the defensive magnets at the break, with Johnson coming off for another rest, Holly Fowler coming on in wing defence, and Harrison and Temu swapping bibs. Burger moved into wing defence for the Tactix, as Fletcher came off, and Julia Wynands came on at goal defence. Burger would make her way back into goal defence later in the quarter as the Stars piled on 12 of the first 18 goals to blow the lead way out to 13. Though the Tactix were far more competitive in the second half of the term, it was a case of too little, too late, and the Stars triumphed 63-51.

Aside from Reuelu-Buchanan’s 21 goal assists from 44 feeds and two intercepts, Crampton had 26 goal assists from 41 feeds and Wilson finished with 37 goals from 44 attempts. Malesia (12 from 19) was the next best with Hume (12 from 18), whilst Harrison (two intercepts, one rebound) and Temu (one intercept, one rebound) were good in the defensive circle.

For the Tactix, Bird shot 33 goals from 35 attempts, with Selby-Rickit managing the 18 from 23, as well as 15 goal assists and a rebound. Nathan had 17 goal assists from 31 feeds, with Burger and Nawai-Caucau combining for four intercepts and five rebounds in the loss.

Funnily enough these sides both face off for a second time this week, with the Stars this time playing host at Pulman Arena on Wednesday night for a rescheduled Round 4 clash.