The Limpopo Baobabs beat Sonoblomo from the Free State 65 - 28 in a thrilling Division 2 Telkom Netball League encounter on Thursday. The Limpopo-based team emerged victorious with a dominant performance throughout the game, showcasing their exceptional skills and determination to stay at the top of the log standings.
The Baobabs took an 11-point lead in the first half, recording a scoreline of 18-7 before heading into the break. As the match returned from the break, the Baobabs took charge of the game once more and set the tone for the match. The Baobabs shooters, Marichelle Visagie and Nthabiseng Mothusi, were on point, delivering accurate shots and collectively extending the score to 30-16.
As the contest progressed, Sonoblomo struggled to find their rhythm and faced numerous challenges. The Free State team resorted to taking shots from long range, trying to bypass the Baobabs' solid defence, however, their efforts were largely in vain. Sonoblomo also faced difficulties in retaining possession during their centre passes, frequently losing them to the vigilant Baobabs.
With the game reaching its conclusion, the Baobabs maintained their momentum, exuding energy and determination and finished the match with a score of 65 - 28 to maintain their winning streak.
The match that followed was a feisty battle between the Western Cape Tornados and the Kingdom Queens from KwaZulu-Natal, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Both teams displayed exceptional skills and determination, showcasing the true spirit of the game, but it was Coach Freda Kemp’s team who took an early lead and capitalised on their attacking opportunities throughout the first half. With both teams showing the hunger to win, it was the Western Cape team that took the lead by 11-7 in the first quarter, leaving the Queens to chase the game from behind.
When the teams returned for the second quarter, the Queens struggled to find their scoring touch, missing several crucial opportunities to narrow the deficit. In an attempt to change their fortunes, the Queens' Centre, Thulisile Nhleko, was moved to the Goal Attack position, utilising her versatility and experience to provide an additional scoring threat. It took the Queens five minutes into the second half to finally find the net, providing a much-needed boost of confidence for their team.
The Tornados were determined to maintain their dominance and ended the last two rounds with a flurry of goals, going on a scoring streak that put the Queens' defence under immense pressure. Adendorf Lauren was crowned player of the match after working tirelessly, making crucial interceptions and denying the KwaZulu-Natal-based team any easy scoring chances in the circle throughout the encounter.
In the final round of matches for the day, it was the Free State Crinums, who are positioned second in the league, up against the Eastern Cape Aloes who are yet to find their first win since being promoted. The Aloes got the affair going with a strong offensive approach, taking an early lead and putting the Crinums on the backfoot. The first quarter saw the Aloes maintaining a narrow goal difference, making the former champions chase the game. However, the Crinums showed their resilience and experience as they fought back in the closing minutes of the first quarter to snatch the lead and head into the break with a one-point advantage.
The second and third quarters saw the Crinums take control of the game and gain momentum, leaving the Aloes struggling to keep up. It took over five minutes in the second quarter before the Aloes could finally put a goal on the scoreboard, facing a growing deficit. Crinums Centre Khanyisa Chawane executed her passes with precision, ensuring smooth transitions and effective ball distribution to win her the player of the match accolade.
While the Aloes shooters were struggling to convert their chances into goals, the Crinums shooters displayed excellent accuracy and composure, consistently finding the net when given the opportunity. Despite the Aloes' commendable efforts, they were let down by their inaccuracy which hindered their chances of closing the gap and the Crinums went on to win the encounter by 18 goals.
Results:
Baobabs 48-24 Sonoblomo
Tornados 47-29 Queens
Crinums 58-40 Aloes