Malawi netball icon Mwawi Kumwenda’s Mainland Tactix on Monday tumbled to the bottom of the five-team Trans-Tasman Netball League in Christchurch, New Zealand following a 64-59 defeat at the hands of Central Pulse.
Pulse, who anchored the league since the start of the season, leapfrogged Tactix following a spirited show that saw them clinch only their second victory.
Tactix have five points from 11 games having won twice, drawn once and lost eight. Pulse also have five points, so too third-placed Mystics but are separated by basket difference.
Southern Steel lead the table with 21 points from 11 games.
At the conclusion of the league, the top three teams from both the Australian and New Zealand Conferences progress through to the finals of the ANZ Championship.
However, Mwawi insisted in an interview from New Zealand yesterday that her team still has a chance to finish third.
“Any of the three bottom teams has a chance of finishing third, but it will depend on how we perform in the remaining games,” she said.
According to anz-championship.com match report, Pulse led 18-15 in the first quarter and still had a three-goal lead (32-29) going into half-time, Tactix led 50-44 going into the final stanza.
“The Tactix returned to the court with the most urgency they’d shown in the match—a screaming Kumwenda demanding the long bombs, which were deftly delivered to her under the post.
“But picking up the scent of victory, a fired-up Pulse captain Katrina Grant wouldn’t let her side lose focus in the final minutes and they held on for what could be a critical win in their drive to the Conference finals,” read part of the report.
