Mainland Tactix have spoilt their rivals' birthday celebrations, returning to the top of the ANZ Premiership with a comprehensive 60-42 victory over Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic at Hamilton's Globox Arena.
Wearing the throwback uniforms worn by their 2012 trans-Tasman championship-winning team, the Magic hoped some of that razzle-dazzle might rub off on their 25th anniversary, but had no answer for the southerners, who every quarter on their way to the win.
The Tactix stretched their margin to 19 goals near the end, capping a run of 24 goals without missing.
With veteran Ellie Bird again leading the way, the visitors converted 60/63 attempts (95 percent) on goal, with Bird shooting flawlessly for the final 56 minutes of the game, after missing her third attempt.
Just as telling, the Magic managed only 55 feeds into their attack circle, compared to 86 for Tactix, which limited opportunities for shooters Saviour Tui and Ameliaranne Ekenasio to keep them in the game.
At the defensive end, Jane Watson gratefully grabbed five intercepts for the Mainland side, who leapfrog Central Pulse to the top of the table. Pulse have a chance to snatch the spot back, when they host the champion Northern Mystics on Monday.
Mainland Tactix 60 (Bird 39/40, Selby-Rickit 18/20, Allan 3/3) Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 42 (Tui 29/31, Ekenasio 13/16)
