Stingy South Africans take down Malawi in playoff

South Africa were too strong for a resilient Malawi outfit that go winless through the Fast5 series, inconsistent shooting combined with impressive defence from South Africa were the deciding factors.

South Africa end their tournament with a win on the back of some sharp shooting from Deancke Rohde in one of the South African team’s better displays of the series, defeating Malawi 28 -17.

It was a fast start to the 5^th vs 6^th playoff as Malawi and South Africa as Deancke Rhode and Maryka Holtzhausen combined for eight points to give the South African side an 8-5 advantage at the first break.

Neither team would let up in the second as a number if big collisions added an edge to the playoff, with neither time giving an inch. South Africa’s Mwanei and Malawi’s Mvula battled it out under the post for the majority of the quarter with Maweni gaining the upper hand, holding Malawi’s shooter to just 2/6 shooting for the quarter, with scores tied at 11 at the main break.

The third quarter was another defensive struggle, with South Africa able to smother the Malawian attack and outscore the Malawian’s 5-4 despite Malawi being in their power play quarter. South Africa enter the final change with a one point advantage and a powerplay to come.

South Africa leapt into their powerplay with eight quick points and effectively ended the game. Malawi battled hard to claw the game back but South Africa were too strong, holding on for a 28-17 win.

Malawi go winless and finish in sixth as South Africa claim 5^th spot for the 2017 Fast5 series.

South Africa 28 defeated Malawi 17

South Africa shooting statistics

Malawi shooting statistics