CRINUMS PRODUCE A COMEBACK PERFORMANCE TO WIN OVER ALOES
The Limpopo Baobabs beat Sonoblomo from the Free State 65 – 28 in a thrilling netball encounter in Thursday’s match encounter in Division 2. The Limpopo-based team emerged victorious with a dominant performance throughout the game, showcasing their exceptional skills and determination to stay at the top of the log standings.
The Baobabs took an eleven points lead in the first half, recording a scoreline of 18 – 7 before heading into the break. As the match returned from the break, the Baobabs took charge of the game once more and set the tone for the match. The Goal Attack of the Baobabs, Visagie Marichelle and Mothusi Nthabiseng were on point, delivering accurate shots and collectively extending the score to 30-16.
As the contest progressed, Sonoblomo struggled to find their rhythm and faced numerous challenges throughout the match. The Free State team resorted to taking shots from range, trying to bypass the Baobabs’ solid defense, however, their efforts were largely in vain. Sonoblomo also faced difficulties in retaining possession during their centre passes, frequently losing them to the vigilant Baobabs.
With the game reaching its conclusion, the Baobabs maintained their momentum from the first whistle, exuding energy and determination. They swiftly scored a goal from their centre pass, demonstrating their intent to dominate the match and finished the match with a high score of 65 – 28 to maintain their winning streak.
The next match that followed was a feisty battle between the Western Cape Tornados and the Kingdom Queens from KwaZulu-Natal, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Both teams displayed exceptional skills and determination, showcasing the true spirit of the game, but it was Coach Freda Kemp’s team who took an early lead and capitalized on their attacking opportunities throughout the first half. With both teams showing the hunger to win it all, it was the Western Cape team that took the lead by 11-7 in the first quarter, leaving the Queens to chase the game from behind.
When the teams returned for the second quarter, the Queens struggled to find their scoring touch, missing several crucial opportunities to narrow the deficit. In an attempt to change their fortunes, the Queens’ centre, Thulisile Nhleko was moved to the Goal Attack position, utilizing her versatility and experience to provide an additional scoring threat. It took the Queens five minutes into the second half to finally find the back of the net, providing a much-needed boost of confidence for their team.
The Tornados were determined to maintain their dominance and ended the last two rounds with a flurry of goals, going on a scoring streak that put the Queens’ defense under immense pressure. Adendorf Lauren was crowned player of the match after working tirelessly, making crucial interceptions and denying the KwaZulu-Natal based team any easy scoring chances in the circle throughout the encounter.
In the final round of matches for the day, it was the Free State Crinums, who are positioned second in the league, up against the Eastern Cape Aloes who are yet to find their first win since being promoted. The Aloes got the affair going with a strong offensive approach, taking an early lead and putting Crinums on the backfoot. The first quarter saw Aloes maintaining a narrow goal difference, making the former Champions chase the game. However, Crinums showed their resilience and experience as they fought back in the closing minutes of the first quarter to snatch the lead and head into the break with a one-point advantage.
The second half and third half saw Crinums take control of the game and gain momentum, leaving Aloes struggling to keep up. It took over five minutes in the second quarter before Aloes could finally put a goal on the scoreboard, facing a growing deficit. Crinums’ centre player, Khanyisa Chawane executed her passes with precision, ensuring smooth transitions and effective ball distribution to win her the Player of the Match accolade.
While Aloes’ shooters’ were struggling to convert their chances into goals, Crinums’ shooters displayed excellent accuracy and composure, consistently finding the net when given the opportunity. Despite Aloes’ commendable efforts, they were let down by their shooting accuracy which hindered their chances of closing the gap and the Crinums went on to win the encounter by 18 goals more.
Results:
Baobabs 48-24 Sonoblomo
Tornados 47-29 Queens
Crinums 58-40 Aloes
