Netball: Mainland Tactix outlast Central Pulse in overtime ANZ Premiership top-of-table thriller

Mainland Tactix have dominated extra time to overhaul Central Pulse 58-53 at Christchurch and seize outright lead on the ANZ Premiership table.

In a contest befitting two teams that have alternated atop the competition on goal difference, the team from the capital led for most of the journey, ahead by six goals during the second quarter and still by three into the final period.

The southerners scored six straight goals to edge ahead 41-39 early in the fourth quarter, but a seesaw battle went to the final seconds, when Tactix shooter Ellie Bird had a chance to win in regulation, but missed for just the second time all game.

Locked at 51-51 entering two three-minute periods, the home side made no race of added time, scoring the first three goals to steal momentum and then three more consecutively to put victory behind reach for their rivals.

Bird finished with 39/42 (93 percent) shooting to consolidate her status as most accurate scorer in the competition, while counterpart Martina Salmon - filling in for injured Silver Fern Amelia Walmsley - was almost as good with 50/55 (91 percent).    

Mainland Tactix 58 (Bird 39/42, Selby-Rickit 16/21, Allan 3/5) Central Pulse 53 (Salmon 50/55, Maro 3/3)

More to come

Mainland Tactix have dominated extra time to overhaul Central Pulse 58-53 at Christchurch and seize outright lead on the ANZ Premiership table.

In a contest befitting two teams that have alternated atop the competition on goal difference, the team from the capital led for most of the journey, ahead by six goals during the second quarter and still by three into the final period.

The southerners scored six straight goals to edge ahead 41-39 early in the fourth quarter, but a seesaw battle went to the final seconds, when Tactix shooter Ellie Bird had a chance to win in regulation, but missed for just the second time all game.

Locked at 51-51 entering two three-minute periods, the home side made no race of added time, scoring the first three goals to steal momentum and then three more consecutively to put victory behind reach for their rivals.

Bird finished with 39/42 (93 percent) shooting to consolidate her status as most accurate scorer in the competition, while counterpart Martina Salmon - filling in for injured Silver Fern Amelia Walmsley - was almost as good with 50/55 (91 percent).    

Mainland Tactix 58 (Bird 39/42, Selby-Rickit 16/21, Allan 3/5) Central Pulse 53 (Salmon 50/55, Maro 3/3)

More to come

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