Fireballs and Jaguars dominate while Crinums bounce back

On Day three of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) Power Week 2, the atmosphere in Sun City was electric.

The Jaguars took an early lead and managed to maintain their momentum throughout the match. Although the Southern Stings improved in the second half, they struggled to find their rhythm and could not overcome the Jaguars' substantial lead.

Strong defensive play from Zane Bodenstein and Jamie van Wyk was crucial for the Jaguars, along with an impressive offensive partnership between Ine-Mari Venter and Kamo Maseko. Under Coach Rozanne Matthyse’s guidance, the Jaguars executed their game plan, finishing with a score of 61-49. Naledi Makoa earned her first TNL Player of the Match award.

"I’m proud of my girls for executing the game plan. Our preparation paid off, and we’ll stay focused as we prepare for our next game,” said Matthyse.

Dr. Freda Kemp, coach of the Stings, acknowledged their progress but highlighted the need for improvement. “We’re not satisfied with our 40 per cent shooting in the first quarter. We’ll work on that and build on our new shooter combination.”

In another match, the Eastern Cape Aloes faced a close finish against the North West Flames but ultimately fell short, with a final score of 49-54. Inconsistencies plagued the Aloes, particularly in the shooting circle, where Coach Sameisha Esau experimented with different combinations. Meanwhile, the North West Flames executed their clear plan and strategy effectively. A significant momentum shift occurred in the third quarter, allowing the Flames to dominate the remainder of the game.

The Aloes had a tough day in the office, losing both of their matches. Additionally, the Diamonds and the Lillies also suffered defeats today.

The Golden Fireballs continued their unbeaten streak, overpowering the Limpopo Baobabs and maintaining a lead in every quarter. While the Baobabs tried to stay competitive in the first quarter, the Fireballs pulled ahead decisively in the third quarter due to their strong defence and effective offensive strategies. The Gauteng side made significant gains through interceptions and utilised their super shots effectively, concluding the match with a score of 63-38.

Fireballs’ coach, Dr. Elsje Jordaan, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their consistency and determination.

In contrast, Baobabs' coach, Emily Mathosa, noted that her team started strong but struggled with turnovers and advancing the ball. Cornelia Mupenda from the Fireballs received the Player of the Match award for her exceptional performance. The Fireballs' next challenge will be against their Gauteng rivals, the Jaguars, at 1:00 PM.

In an early morning matchup, the defending champions, the Free State Crinums, secured their first two points of the second Power Week. After analysing their errors from previous games, the team improved and thrashed the Aloes with a score of 62-38. Refiloe Nketsa was recognised for her hard work and received the player of the match accolade.

You can catch the action live on SuperSport Variety 4 channel 209 or check out the Netball South Africa website for fixtures and updates.

RESULTS:

Crinums 62-38 Aloes

Diamonds 41-66 Sonoblomo

KD Queens 53-35 Lillies

Baobabs 38-63 Fireballs

Tornados 58-35 Comets

Aloes 49-54 Flames

Stings 49-61 Jaguars

FIXTURES:

07:00 SA U21 v Baobabs

09:00 Lillies v Comets

11:00 Tornados v KD Stars

13:00 Fireballs v Jaguars

15:00 Tshukudu v Sunbirds

17:00 SA U21 v Stings

19:00 Crinums v Flames