The highly anticipated Gauteng Derby between the Golden Fireballs and the Jaguars lived up to its expectation, on Day 7 of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) held at the Sun City Super Bowl near Rustenburg.
The match was marked by personal battles on the court, with both teams determined to come out on top. The Fireballs took an early lead, but the Jaguars fought back, levelling the score at halftime. The third quarter saw the team neck and neck, with the Jaguars briefly taking the lead. However, the Fireballs regained momentum and emerged victorious by beating the Jaguars 50-43.
“We’re growing as a unit, and I think we’re gaining a little bit of composure. We’ve secured the two points, which is what we needed. We’re becoming more consistent, and our centre players had a good game,” said an elated Fireballs coach, Dr. Elsje Jordaan
Meanwhile, in other earlier matches, Tshukudu pulled off a stunning upset against top-of-the-log Tornados.
Tshukudu’s dominance in intercepts and effective defensive strategy were key factors in their 53-50 win. Goal shooter Anri Liebenberg’s 92% shooting accuracy was also instrumental in their success. Tshukudu coach, Vivian Foko, heaped praise on her players.
“I’m thrilled with the win. Our bench support was incredible, and my players responded well when I told them to communicate better at the circle. It was a tough game, but we came out on top,” remarked Foko.
The North West Flames delivered an impressive performance, securing a 10-goal win over the SPAR Baby Proteas (who were playing their last match for Power Week 1).
Both teams were looking to bounce back from previous defeats, but the Flames dominated from the start, winning all quarters and emerged victorious with a 51-41 score.
“I’m thrilled with the win, and I can see the smiles on the girls’ faces. In the second half, there was a moment where we were dipping a bit, but I reminded them to stick to the plan and play for each other. The Under-21s played well, especially defensively. For us, it’s about playing as a team, taking care of the ball, maintaining possession, and converting our chances into goals,” reacted Flames coach Elsunet du Plessis.
The Sunbirds edged out the KD Stars 41-39 in a nail-biting finale to Division B action. The match was intensely contested, with the KD Stars dominating the first quarter 13-7. However, the Sunbirds fought back to level the score at halftime, 20-20.
The second half saw both teams give their all, with the Sunbirds taking a narrow lead into the final quarter, 30-28. The Sunbirds’ composure and discipline paid off, as they conceded fewer penalties and capitalised on their opportunities to secure the win. Power Week 1 matches will end on Sunday, with Power Week 2 expected to take place from June 13-17.
