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Tactix farewell Seymour in style

Roar Guru
6th July, 2009
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Expectant mother Julie Seymour has bowed out of top-class netball in appropriate fashion, crowning her career with a consolation 63-56 victory for Tactix over the Northern Mystics.

Seymour, 38, who missed out on world championship and Commonwealth Games glory during her illustrious 92-Test career, departs without an ANZ Championship medal as well given Monday night’s 14th-round match in Christchurch had no bearing on the semi-final make-up.

But Seymour, pregnant with her fourth child, was delighted at the final whistle, settling for a final victory in Canterbury colours over her province’s keenest sporting rival.

“I started my career in red and in black and it’s fitting I finish it in red and black,” said Seymour, who is likely to continue in the sport in a coaching capacity.

Naturally Seymour was instrumental in the Tactix bossing the midcourt to such an extent the Mystics superior shooting accuracy proved immaterial.

Catherine Latu dominated the shooting statistics at the main break, missing just one of 21 attempts but crucially for the home side the Mystics prime attacking weapon was relatively starved of possession.

The Tactix made 44 attempts in the first half, compared to 29 by the visitors as the home side led 34-27.

The introduction of a flawless Anna Thompson for Angela Mitchell at goal attack improved the Tactix’s percentages in the final two quarters.

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Thompson nailed all 15 attempts after replacing Mitchell (12/19) and as the clock wound down the Tactix were also able to spell principle shooter Jodi Brown (34/41) for Ellen Halfpenny.

Once the Tactix forged a 13-point lead with five minutes to play there was no prospect of another debilitating final quarter collapse – a failing that helped condemn Seymour’s team to seventh place on the competition ladder.

One of those meltdowns occurred in round nine when the Mystics squeezed home 47-46.

However, the Aucklanders played second fiddle during Seymour’s farewell and end their season in eighth spot with an unflattering three-win, 12-loss record.

English import Pamela Cookey made 16 of 17 while Latu’s radar rarely went on the blink, recording 36 from 39 before she limped off with an ankle injury when the contest was lost.

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