Day 8 of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) was nothing short of a great netball display, leaving netball fans eager for more at the Sun City Super Bowl. The day’s action-packed matches highlighted the league’s growing excitement and competitiveness.
The Golden Fireballs showcased exceptional composure and creativity, securing a 62-57 win over the North West Flames. They took an early lead in the first quarter and maintained momentum, with the quarter scores reading: Q1 18-12 Fireballs, Q2 31-27 Fireballs, Q3 45-43 Flames.
The Telkom Supershot significantly impacted the game, with Owethu “Sammy” Ngubane (who walked away with the player of the match award) scoring four out of four shots for the Fireballs and Caitlin du Plessis scoring three Supershots for the Flames. The shooters’ ability to utilise the Supershot to their advantage proved crucial in deciding the outcome.
Flames Coach Elsunet du Plessis: “It was a great performance from both teams, showcasing solid netball. We made key mistakes at important times, but I’m proud of the ladies for their determination and effort until the end.”
“On Super Shots: You need to think about how you’re playing, defending, and attacking those two minutes.”
Golden Fireballs’ Coach Dr. Elsje Jordaan: “Well done to the Flames, I thought they brought their A game today, and they really gave us a great match. These are the games that we need to prepare, and the fight that the players showed was tremendous.”
“On Super Shots: We put a plan in place, and Sammy played it well. Giving confidence to shooters is key.”
The Fireballs finish Power Week 1 unbeaten, securing the top position on the log standings. They will now head home to rest and regroup. Meanwhile, the Flames are set to play against the
Aloes tomorrow. The Golden Fireballs delivered an impressive performance, showcasing their skill, strategy, and teamwork.
KD Stars secured a 45-36 win against the Lilies, dominating all quarters. The Lilies showed signs of improvement, impressing with their composure and ball control. However, the Stars’ strength ultimately gave them the win. Key statistics include the Stars’ struggle with Super Shot utilisation and the Lilies’ 55 circle feeds, highlighting areas for improvement. Stars’ Thulisile Maduna was named Player of the Match, showcasing her impressive skills and contribution to the KZN side’s victory. The Lilies have work to do to enhance their performance in the second leg.
In an afternoon encounter, the Jaguars secured a 57-47 win against the Aloes in a closely contested match. The Aloes led 12-10 in the first quarter, but the Jaguars made a remarkable comeback, with quarter scores unfolding as follows: the Aloes scored 11 points in the second quarter to the Jaguars’ 14, taking the score to 23-24 in favour of the Jaguars at halftime. The Jaguars further extended their lead in the third quarter, scoring 16 points to the Aloes’ 13, and dominated the final quarter with 17 points to the Aloes’ 11.
Aloes coach Sameshia Esau said, “We had a good start, but the Jaguars came back strong in the second quarter. The third quarter was the turning point, and the Jaguars dominated the last quarter. Individually, our players performed well, but we need to work on consistency and goal-shooting percentages.”
Jaguars coach Rozanne Matthyse added, “We worked on some things, and I’m happy that we got those things done. I knew we were going to win this game, and we pulled through. I’m happy with the performance and well done to the Aloes for giving us a good game, especially in the first three quarters.”
The Jaguars’ defensive effort was impressive, with nine intercepts. Jamie van Wyk was named Player of the Match. With this win, the Jaguars are headed back home, while the Aloes will play their final match against the Flames tomorrow at 7 am. The Aloes will look to end their campaign on a high note, focusing on improving their consistency and reducing penalties.
Tshukudu showcased exceptional prowess and teamwork, securing a convincing 70-44 victory over Sonoblomo. As newcomers to the competition, having made their debut last season, Tshukudu has shown significant growth and improvement. The match unfolded with Tshukudu taking an early 14-10 lead, extending it to 39-19 at halftime after outscoring Sonoblomo 25-9 in the second quarter. Sonoblomo showed resilience in the third quarter, outscoring Tshukudu 15-13, but still trailed 52-34. Tshukudu sealed the win with an 18-10 performance in the final quarter.
Tshukudu’s dominance was reflected in the stats, with 13 interceptions, while Sonoblomo’s 110 circle feeds yielded only 44 shots, highlighting an area for improvement. Meanwhile, Tshukudu’s penalty count stood at 50, a figure they may need to address moving forward.
Coach Vivian Foko (Tshukudu): “The game was nice, anyway, we came knowing we’re going to win this game, but I told them not to relax. We have to take advantage of this because we know them. I told them to put in more effort, fight till the end, and work hard.”
Coach Marie De Wet (Sonoblomo): “It was a tough game, and we didn’t have all our players, so we did with what we had. The positives are that they wouldn’t stop until the last whistle. They’re hardworking and a united team, but we need to work on our mistakes.”
In the last match of the day, the Crinums delivered an impressive performance, outclassing the Southern Stings with a score of 50-39. The match unfolded with the Crinums taking an early lead, winning the first quarter 15-12. They extended their advantage in the second quarter, outscoring the Stings 13-10 to take a 28-22 lead at halftime. The Crinums continued to dominate in the third quarter, winning 14-10 to take a 42-32 lead. In the final quarter, they sealed their victory with an 8-7 performance, finishing 50-39.
The Crinums’ victory was marked by several key highlights, including a solid defensive unit that limited the Stings’ scoring opportunities. Statistically, the Crinums’ strong defensive strategy was evident in their 9 interceptions, compared to the Stings’ 4. Additionally, Super Shot points played a key role, with Bianca Lubbe performing well in this area.
Crinums Coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm: “I’m thrilled the girls stepped up in the absence of our key player. We tested different combinations, and it paid off. Liber’s super shots were sensational – her confidence is inspiring. I’m proud of the girls and excited for the second leg.”
Stings Coach Dr. Freda Kemp: “We had some positives, like our defence, but our timing was off on attack. Congratulations to the Crinums – they deserved the win. We’ll focus on improving our attack, defence, and chemistry over the next month before the second leg.”
The Crinums’ victory showcases their strength and depth, and they will look to build on this momentum in their next match against the Zambezi Eagles.
The final matches of Power Week 1 will take place tomorrow, Sunday, May 4, at the Sun City Super Bowl, with the first centre pass scheduled for 7 a.m. Teams will be aiming to secure essential points as they prepare for Power Week 2.
You can catch the action live on SuperSport Variety 4 channel 209 or check out the Netball South Africa website for fixtures and updates.
Tickets are available on the Netball South Africa (NSA) website at just R100.
Full Day Results:
07:00 Comets 36-49 Tornados
09:00 Diamonds 33-48 Sunbirds
11:00 Flames 57-62 Fireballs
13:00 KD Stars 45-36 Lillies
15:00 Aloes 47-57 Jaguars
17:00 Tshukudu 70-44Sonoblomo
19:00 Crinums 53-39 Stings
Sunday 4 May 2025 Fixtures:
07:00 Flames vs Aloes
09:00 Tshukudu vs Comets
11:00 Diamonds vs KD Queens
13:00 Crinums vs Zambezi Eagles
