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Tactix looking to pressure Southern Steel

How about a Netball State of Origin? (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)
Roar Guru
8th April, 2016
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The Tactix ran into the defending champions in the Queensland Firebirds away from home in Round 1.

They were competitive and played with passion, but some critical errors during the second and third quarters cost them and they ended up going down 70-55.

Being only Round 1 they aren’t reading too much into the result and are looking to bounce back this week against the Southern Steel in Invercargill on Sunday.

“It was a tough loss but we aren’t getting to caught up on it since it was the first game. We are extremely happy with our first couple of quarters and last quarter but I guess all it is now is to have the consistency to play the whole game like we started,” Gemma Hazeldine of the Tactix said.

“A few errors crept in and we went away from our game plan a bit. We are better when we work together as a team which helped us push through for the last quarter and finish strongly.

“With another tall shooter at the back, we need to slow the ball down before it gets to her, which means a full team effort on defence. We need to concentrate on our own game, minimise our errors and play a consistent four quarters.” Hazeldine said talking about the Steel.

The Steel enter Sunday’s match having won their opening-round match against the Mystics by one goal, and will take confidence into the match up on their home court. The Steel have a 13 to three record over the Tactix since 2008 and in their last meeting recorded 74 goals which is a league record, the Tactix are confident they are about to turn the tide though.

“We played them in preseason and were happy with our performance, But we know that this is the real deal and anything can happen on game day, we just need to believe in ourselves and our game plan,” Hazeldine said.

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After a tough pre season for the Tactix Hazeldine believes they are ready to go, with the girls looking super fit and excited about the season.

“I was overseas in the off season but coming back and seeing all the girls looking super fit really impressed me. I’ve been impressed with everyone to be honest with you but seeing Nic Mackle come back after her injury last year, She’s looking stronger and fitter than ever. We are really lucky in our team that everyone has done the hard yards in the off season because we truly do want to give ourselves every opportunity to improve on our performance from last year.

“Everyone is super excited. We are a great bunch of girls this year, everyone gets along so well and has so many jokes and laughs. It is amazing to get back out on the court and test ourselves against the best net ballers around.”

Hazeldine believes the Tactics can head up the ladder this season and be super competitive.

“Absolutely, we are very capable and we have the players to do it. We just need to be ‘Stronger Together’ and ‘Better than Before’. These are some of our mottos for the 2016 season.”

To get the win against the Steel they will have to disrupt the play up the court by putting on lots of pressure to try and keep the ball away from Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid. They will rely heavily on mid courters Hayley Saunders, Nicola Mackle and Anna Thompson.

If they can do that then the Tactix might be able to square the ledger and start the climb up the ladder. Hazeldine herself has been spending sometime playing and learning the centre position, although she admits that she is more suited to goal attack.

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“GA is definitely where I feel at home although I have loved learning the centre position and would be more than comfortable slotting in there if need be.”

The Tactix certainly have the depth this year to be competitive and after the hard work over the pre season are looking forward to reaping the benefits, it starts this Sunday against the Steel.

Follow me on Twitter: jased1973

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