JOHANNESBURG – There were lots of goals on the second day of the Spar Women’s National Netball Championships at the Lotto Young Park Netball Courts in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Districts like Tshwane, Dr KK Kaunda and Mangaung Metro Districts showed their strength in the Senior Section A, by incorporating players who were in the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (BFNPL) and USSA championships which was played last week.
In their first game of the day Dr Elsje Jordaan’s Dr KK Kaunda District beat their neighbours Bojanala 103-23.
“We didn’t expect to win with such a margin. We expected a tougher game... But we started really well, that was the aim. Since the BFNPL we’ve been trying to build the lead and finish the game off. It’s coming through for us.
“Consistently we were there, building the game. Converting our turnovers is also getting better. It’s the numbers game at the end and we are getting better with that,” said the former Proteas captain Jordaan.
Some action from the Netball Nationals in Port Elizabeth. Photo: Reg Caldecott via @Netball_SA on Twitter
Jordaan said all she wanted was to see her team succeed.
“We want to do well in this tournament. We are going to go quietly about our business. But getting such a great win under their belt is great for the girls.” she said.
Jordaan was happy to have Vanes-Mari du Toit back to her original role of goalkeeping.
“She’s been great for us in the BFNPL. She is good with bounces but is not as accurate as a specialist shooter. She carried us in the BFNPL but with Sigi (Burger) back, who is a specialist shooter, it doesn’t make sense to waste both good players. So it’s great to have them both sides of the centre,” said Jordaan.
Burger, who played for Surrey Storm in England, was out with a knee injury for six months. She returned in the second half of the Varsity Cup.
Thank You for supporting women's sport and the #SPARNationalChamps Luvo Manyonga. South African LONG JUMPER and Olympic silver medalist 🥈 World Champion gold medalist🥇 World Champion indoor silver medalist🥈 and Commonwealth Champion🥇
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— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) July 11, 2018
In their second match they beat Burta de Kock’s Mangaung Metro 59-37. The game was balanced in the first half with players giving their all but the Potchefstroom team came out victorious.
That defeat for Mangaung Metro came after a great start of winning their first match of the day against Ehlanzeni from Ermelo, Mpumalanga 75-15.
Mangaung Metro are building a new team and were missing Karla Pretorius (formerly Mostert) and their former captain Maryka Holtzhausen.
Tshwane continued with their domination by winning their games 82-20 against Gert Sibande and then 68-25 against Nelson Mandela Bay.