Liverpool, United Kingdom; The SPAR Proteas went into their second game of the Vitality Netball World Cup on Saturday beaming with great confidence as they faced the islanders Fiji. South Africa trounced Fiji 90-35 making it two wins out of two games played.
SPAR Proteas Head Coach Norma Plummer brought four changes from the team that played the opener against Trinidad and Tobago the day before.
The team got off to a great start taking an 8 -1 lead within the first five minutes of the game. South Africa started like a house on fire and continued to take the game to Fiji from the start and continuing to dominate for the better part of the quarter. The attacking duo of Stoltz and Potgieter could not be missed with Potgieter’s conversation rate at 94% and Stoltz had an 88% conversion rate. At the end of quarter 1, South Africa were 24 -9 in the lead.
Captain Msomi who earned her 100th cap for the SPAR Proteas was also another great player in the middle of the court, her contribution was pivotal and very impressive. She was an inspiration and a driving force, with her accurate, quick passes giving her team-mates good chances to score.
At the start of the second quarter, Fiji attempted to take the game to South Africa however the Proteas were very quick to counter them and stamped their authority in the match. Fiji changed their game tactics by making two quick substitutions within the first eight minutes of the game. The SPAR Proteas continued with their dominance throughout the second quarter and extending their second quarter lead by an additional 23 points against Fiji’s 10. Half time score was 47 – 19.
The beginning of the third quarter saw the introduction of Sigrid Burger upfront and Phumza Maweni at the back, Chawane was moved to the centre of the court. South Africa’s dominance continued, and they extended their lead to 67 -25 at the end of the quarter. Fiji really struggled to get off gear as they only managed to score nine through the quarter.
The start of the final quarter saw Fiji taking the game to South Africa and challenging them for almost every single ball however errors at the poles worked against them in the end. South Africa’s quick interchange passes was the difference maker on this quarter as the SPAR Proteas took the game 90 -35.
“I am delighted with the performance of the team; I mean we had to make four changes from the team that played yesterday. It really didn’t look like we had changed the team as the girls played like a well-oiled machine. The victory against Fiji is a good morale booster for the team as we head into our final group stage match against Jamaica. Our opponents really gave us a run for our money, and we needed that and I am also happy for the captain Bongi for her 100th test today for the Proteas, says Norma Plummer, SPAR Proteas Head Coach.
“I had completely forgotten that this is my 100th cap today until we got to the team room for our meeting. This really caught me by surprise, I am very happy for this milestone and extremely happy that it came with a win tonight. Ultimately this has been about the team for me since day one and I am proud that we are here today, said Bongiwe Msomi, SPAR Proteas captain.
90 goals are the highest score so far at NWC2019 and South Africa’s second highest World Cup score ever behind 110 goals at the 1995 Netball World Cup in Birmingham against Cayman Islands.
