Veteran shooter Ellie Bird has continued her unlikely ANZ Premiership return, guiding Mainland Tactix to a 59-54 win over Northern Stars to extend their winning start to the new season.
After dominating the opening two quarters and building an eight-goal advantage just before halftime, the South Islanders threatened to throw victory away, conceding seven straight goals, as the Stars edged ahead for the first time.
The Tactix defence clamped down on their rivals in the final period, limiting Stars shooters Maia Wilson and Summer Temu to just 11 attempts at goal - they converted them all - compared to 18 for Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rickit at the other end.
The home side were only two goals ahead with two minutes to play, but scored the last three to draw away in the final seconds.
Bird stepped away from the Tactix two years ago - one game short of her 100th game - and retired after a season playing in England, but was brought back into the squad, when shooter Aliyah Dunn suffered a knee injury in the pre-season.
She celebrated her century in victory over Southern Steel last week and shot 47/51 (92 percent) to lead all scorers this week. Counterpart Wilson converted 31/38 (82 percent), while goal attacks Selby-Rickit (12/12) and Temu (20/20) both shot faultlessly.
"Very proud of the fightback we brought and we didn't let them have a bonus point, which is crucial, so really happy," reflected Tactix captain Kimiora Poi. "I think we got a bit stagnant on attack courtwide and they were just picking off those wide balls.
"We just didn't get enough ball on defence in that [third] quarter."
Tactix defender Jane Watson brought up 150 ANZ Premiership games, snatching two intercepts to influence the momentum of the contest.
The southerners now sit atop the competition table, shading Central Pulse on goal percentage, with champions Northern Mystics visiting the Steel on Monday.
Mainland Tactix 59 (Bird 47, Selby-Rickit 12) Northern Stars 54 (Wilson 31, Temu 20, Samason 3)
