Mainland Tactix have crashed to the heaviest loss of their trans-Tasman league campaign, outclassed 73-52 by the NSW Swifts in Christchurch.
The scores were locked at 16-16 after the first quarter before the Australian side motored clear, notching a seventh win from eight games to keep the pressure on unbeaten Queensland at the top of the Australian conference.
A third straight loss for the Tactix was their fifth of the season and leaves them third in the New Zealand conference, boasting an inferior goal percentage to the second-placed Northern Mystics.
The Christchurch-based outfit are in danger of losing their way after a bright start to 2016, with the Swifts exposing weaknesses in their defence in particular.
While the Tactix boast the worst defensive record in the league, the Swifts' attack is the best and that gulf was cruelly exposed over the final three quarters, won 20-13, 19-11, 18-12 by the visitors.
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Goal attack Stephanie Wood was a Swifts' standout in her first start of the season, shooting 32 from 40 but impressing more with her movement and linking with goal shoot Caitlin Thwaites (32/35), who was replaced for the final quarter by Susan Pettitt (9/11).
Australian international Sharni Layton was a defensive standout, snaring five intercepts and seven deflections for the Swifts.
Silver Ferns great Laura Langman formed part of a dominant Swifts midcourt which limited the opportunities for Tactix international shooting pair Bailey Mes (32/38) and Mwai Kumwenda (19/22).
