The SPAR Proteas continued their winning ways in the netball Diamond Challenge at the University of Durban-Westville on Monday, when they thumped Uganda by a massive 59 goals to 27.
Uganda started well and a mistake in the opening passage of play gave them the opportunity to score off South Africa’s first centre pass. They were two goals up before South Africa scored their first, and maintained their slender lead for much of the first quarter, until the Proteas drew level and then passed them in the last two minutes to finish 12-8 ahead.
The Proteas took control of the match in the second quarter, and by halftime were leading 24-15. Uganda managed only five goals in the third quarter and seven in the final, in reply to South Africa’s 17 and 18 goals. Goalshooter Lenize Potgieter and goal attack and player of the match Renske Stoltz were both on song, with Stoltz in particular netting the ball from all areas in the circle. Sigi Burger came on in the final quarter, and maintained the high success rate.
Erin Burger and captain Bongi Msomi were both outstanding, keeping the ball moving in the right direction and intercepting frequent passes.
It was a very physical match, with players crashing to the floor on several occasions. Tempers flared at times, but the umpires kept matters under control.
“We knew it was going to be very physical and frustrating,” said Msomi.
“But I like the fact that as a team we can look at each other and get strength from one another. We weren’t really worried about them getting ahead of us, because we knew we could always come back. We have a lot of trust in the team and that keeps us going when things start getting tough.”
The last time the two teams met was in the World Cup in Sydney last year, where South Africa won by 50 goals to 40.
In Tuesday’s matches, Uganda play Zimbabwe, and the Proteas take on the President’s XII.
