JOHANNESBURG – South Africa stumbled over the final hurdle of an impressive run at the Netball World Cup with a 58-41 defeat to the England Roses in their bronze-medal match in Liverpool yesterday.
The Proteas netball team nevertheless produced their second-best result in 24 years, bowing out of the global showpiece in fourth place overall. They made a promising run for silverware after reaching the semi-final, where they lost to 11-time champions Australia by just two points.
It was not the fairy-tale ending coach Norma Plummer had in mind in her 50th and final match in charge of the South Africans.
“It would be an understatement to say that I am sad with the fact that we didn’t beat England, however at the same time I am super proud of the girls, they gave it their all on the court,” Plummer said.
“Granted, we made a few mistakes, second-guessed ourselves at times, but we played better. I cannot fault anyone here, England came out on tops, and for that we congratulate them.”