MANGAUNG STRENGTHEN SEMIFINAL HOPES AT SPAR NETBALL CHAMPIONSHPS
Potchefstroom, North West, South Africa: Mangaung came from behind to beat Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) 30-27 on the third day of the SPAR National Netball Championships at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds at NWU-Eagles campus on Wednesday.
Their victory means they are virtually assured of a place in the semifinals.
NMB led throughout the match until three minutes before the end, when they first drew level and then passed the Eastern Cape team.
Mangaung coach Martha Mosoahle said she was very relieved to have won and kept the hopes of a semifinal berth alive.
“We lost against Tshwane this morning so I knew we had to win this match to have a chance of reaching the semis,” she said.
“I am down to nine players, so it is very tough. I changed my goal attack in the second quarter and brought. Seseka Adoons on to replace Bianca Pienaar and that worked for us.”
NMB coach Lana Krige said the loss made the road to the semifinals more difficult.
“We have to beat Dr Kenneth Kaunda tomorrow.
“Mangaung were better under pressure. We lost control of the ball in the last quarter. Our shooting average was 55 per cent and you can’t win with a shooting average like that if you lose possession,” said Krige.
Tshwane and Johannesburg continued to forge their way to the semifinals.
Tshwane, undefeated so far, beat Mangaung 45-20 in a remarkably one-sided match. They got off to a bad start, losing their first two centre passes but came back strongly to win the match.
Coach Jenny van Dyk said she was satisfied with her young team’s progress, but not with the way they had played in the match.
“It’s just not acceptable to lose your first two centre passes. But I was pleased with the way they played in pressure situations. They can do better and they know it.”
Tshwane went on to beat Buffalo City 50-21 in their second match of the day.
Johannesburg beat defending champions Cape Winelands 38-31, after leading 19-16 at halftime.
“I am trying to get my players to play with flair and creativity,” said Johannesburg coach Dr Elsje Jordaan.
“There were patches of five minutes or so of very good play and I am trying to get them to be more consistent. Some of their attacking play was excellent, but some of their decision-making let them down. But they are going to be ready for what’s to come in the rest of the week.”
In the opening match of the day, Dr Kenneth Kaunda beat Buffalo City 39-34. Buffalo City have not won a match so far. Dr Kenneth Kaunda then beat Cape Winelands 44-28 in their second match of the day.
Tshwane and Johannesburg are both assured of a place in the semifinal, but Mangaung, Nelson Mandela Bay and Dr Kenneth Kaunda all have four points and Thursday’s matches will decide the other two semifinalists.
DAY 3: Results
Senior A
Buffalo City 34 – Dr Kenneth Kaunda 39
Mangaung 20 – Tshwane 45
Johannesburg 38 – Cape Winelands 31
Nelson Mandela Bay 27 – Mangaung 30
Buffalo City 21 – Tshwane 50
Cape Winelands 28 – Dr Kenneth Kaunda 44
U21 A
Johannesburg 36 – Cape Town 32
Ekurhuleni 15 – Tshwane 55
Cape Town 28 – Dr Kenneth Kaunda 42
Mangaung 26 – Tshwane 41
Selected matches will be broadcast on SuperSport OTT3/Channel 247 on the DSTV App (8-11 August 2022) and Variety 4/Channel 209 (12 August 2022). Finals LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 Channel 208 (13 August 2022). Selected matches will be streaming on the SuperSport Schools App.
SPAR National Netball Championships Broadcast matches on Supersport OTT3 and Variety 3
Thursday, 11 August 2022
08:15 – Nelson Mandela bay vs Dr Kenneth Kaunda
10:50 – Mangaung vs Cape Winelands
12:05 – Tshwane vs Nelson Mandela bay
13:20 – Dr Kenneth Kaunda vs Johannesburg
