Two-time defending champions Johannesburg were untroubled on the opening day of the SPAR National Netball Championships, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, at the Ellis Park Netball on Monday.
The home side comfortably won both of their two opening matches, against A section newcomers, eThekwini, which competed in the B division last year.
The KwaZulu-Natal team battled to keep up with the defending champions who, despite some inaccurate shooting, managed to claim a 69-35 victory.
It was then on to a Jukskei Derby against Tshwane.
The Johannesburg side raced to a 21-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
Tshwane however improved during the match and even won the final quarter by one goal, but that first-quarter deficit was just too large to make up, with Johannesburg ultimately winning 63-42.
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan said afterwards she was happier with her side’s second match of the day.
“I’m pleased. I think we were better in the second game on rounding off, working so hard, punishing them and then getting the reward. The calmer the shooters are when they receive the ball, the more accurate they become,” said Jordaan.
Tshwane coach Erin Burger explained that several players were unavailable for the side, but she believes the team will improve as the tournament progresses.
They claimed a 48-42 victory over the South African under-21 side, who are also competing in the A section, before their loss to Johannesburg.
“It’s a new team and I think they’ve got a lot to give. It’s just to get the combinations to settle and to settle in under pressure. I think as the tournament goes, we’ll get stronger as a team as they get to know each other under pressure on court,” explained Burger.
Meanwhile, apart from Johannesburg, the other teams to retain a clean sheet with two victories on the opening day were Cape Town, who beat Ekurhuleni 57-45 and Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51-47 and Cape Winelands, who were thrilled with their 51-46 victory over last year’s runner-up Mangaung after beating Nelson Mandela Bay 56-24 in their opener.
In the Under-21 tournament, defending champions Tshwane also got their title defence off to a promising start with two victories, beating Cape Town 46-36 and Mangaung 66-38.
A Section Results:
Cape Town 57 – 45 Ekurhuleni
Cape Winelands 56 – 24 Nelson Mandela Bay
Johannesburg 69 – 35 eThekwini
Tshwane 48 – 42 SA U21
Mangaung 63 -27 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 30 Nelson Mandela Bay
eThekwini 44 – 53 SA U21
Johannesburg 63 – 42 Tshwane
Mangaung 46 – 51 Cape Winelands
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 47 – 51 Cape Town
