Johannesburg, South Africa: On a wet and cold day in Johannesburg, top Netball teams from around South Africa brought the heat as they continue to battle for a spot in the top four in both the A and B Division of the 2024 Telkom Netball League (TNL).
The Comets continue to dominate in the B Division, recording their fourth consecutive win, courtesy of the Mpumalanga Sunbirds.
Although the Comets did not have a great first start to the game and right at the end were put under pressure by the Sunbirds, the Eastern Cape side kept their composure, and made a few different combinations, meanwhile the Sunbirds also had to change their shooting circle right at the end due to some blood, but they had a good match.
In a tightly contested match between Tshukudu and Sonoblomo, the Northwest side showed their intentions from the first centre pass, scoring four consecutive goals. Andri Liebenberg who walked away as the player of the match proved troublesome in the circle. Tshukudu coach Lucy Twani made some tactical changes, changing their goal circle, and the defensive end pulled through for them. Sonoblomo made several player changes, but the only player they kept on the court was their GK, Thato Mokhahle.
In a coastal showdown between KD Stars and Tornados, the pressure was on Stars as they had a tough start to the second power week. Stars performed well defensively, but struggled with their shooting, particularly in the goal-shooter position. Phindile Sithole had to work hard in the GA position, and the team was under pressure. However, they excelled defensively. The Tornados had difficulty maintaining possession and their error rate was still a concern. Despite this, it was a closely contested match. In the end, Stars won the game by four goals.
In a closely contested match between the Stings and Flames, both coaches made numerous strategic moves. There were many intercepts by both sides as they fought for possession in both circles and attempted shots on goal. There was frequent switching and changeovers of player positions, which disrupted the teams’ momentum. Both teams experienced a different game plan compared to their usual fast, hard, and straight netball style. The final score saw the Stings win the match 46-38.
Full Results:
KD Queens 54-47 Diamonds
Sunbirds 46-51 Comets
Tshukudu 57-38 Sonoblomo
KD Stars 41-37 Tornados
Stings 46-38 Flames
Baobabs 25-65 Crinums
Tuesday (4 June) Fixtures:
10:00 Lillies vs KD Stars
12:00 Tornados vs Tshukudu
14:00 Sonoblomo vs Comets
16:00 Jaguars vs Flames
18:00 Aloes vs Fireballs
Free to use images on the below link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19oVTwDh7qFGWtkW6jjZvCZaIC2biTXaC?usp=share_link
Photo Cred: Netball South Africa
