Fireballs, Crinums and Comets clinch victories

Friday afternoon's Telkom Netball League action saw the Golden Fireballs claim the Gauteng derby bragging rights, while The Free State Crinums and the Comets came away with important wins at the Heartfelt arena in Pretoria.

The Free State Crinums and KwaZulu-Natal Kingdom Stars' encounter was nothing short of electrifying, with the Crinums coming into the game looking to continue their winning momentum.

The Kingdom Stars got the match under way, scoring an early goal but it wasn't enough to keep their scoring tally going, with only seven goals scored, while Crinums collected 12 goals on the opposite side.

The encounter proved to be an exhilarating affair as both teams fought valiantly for control of the match as the game went on.

Crinums showcased their attacking skills through Lefebre Rademan and Rolene Streukter, executing their attacking strategies flawlessly, leaving Kingdom Stars with little room to mount a comeback.

Crinums took charge of the proceedings with an impressive 16 goals, while Kingdom Stars struggled to match their opponents' intensity, managing to go into the break with 11 goals.

Heading into the third quarter 10 goals behind, Kingdom Stars provided a glimmer of hope for their supporters when they scored an early goal from their centre pass.

However, this initial breakthrough did not turn out to be their scoring momentum. Crinums' defensive unit, in particular, played a pivotal role in stifling Stars' attacking efforts, denying them any significant scoring opportunities.

LILIES WILT AGAINST COMETS

In the second last game of the day, the Limpopo Lilies took on the Eastern Cape Comets in an intense netball matchup.

The game had a fluctuating pace, with both teams displaying their skills and determination on the court.

However, it was the Comets who commanded the proceedings throughout the first half, ultimately securing a convincing victory with a final scoreline of 60-23.

Right from the beginning, the Comets showed their dominance, maintaining a steady lead over the Lilies.

The goal attack duo of Mihlali Mgweba and Princess Kanetsi proved to be a formidable force, exhibiting their sharp shooting skills and making it difficult for the Lilies' defence to contain them.

Their impressive performance was complemented by goal defender Du Toit Kelly, who had previously won the player of the match award. Together, they set the tone for the Comets' early success.

As the second quarter came to a close, the Comets had established a commanding lead of 20 goals, leaving the Limpopo team trailing with only four goals on the board.

Despite their best efforts, the Lilies struggled to break through the strong defensive line of the Comets and convert their opportunities into points.

The third quarter saw a slight slowdown in intensity, providing the Lilies with a chance to regroup and mount a comeback. Although they managed to score more goals in this quarter compared to the previous ones, the Lilies were still unable to close down the significant gap.

Goal attack Nompha Raphalalani of the Lilies played a pivotal role in this quarter, actively participating in the game outside the circle to collect the ball and create scoring opportunities.

FIREBALLS TOO HOT FOR JAGUARS

The Gauteng derby concluded the day’s matches with a thrilling contest between the Gauteng Fireball and the Gauteng Jaguars.

From the first whistle, it was evident that this was going to be a heated battle, the Jaguars started off strong and scored the first goal of the match from their first centre pass.

The Fireballs, however, quickly found their rhythm and began playing long balls into the circle from the final third. Their strategic approach paid off as they started closing the gap and took the lead going into the first quarter break with a scoreline of 14-9.

Coming back in the second quarter, the Jaguars struggled a bit to convert their opportunities in the circle, with the ball rebounding off the rim several times, giving the Fireballs defenders Boitumelo Mahloko and Monica Gomases a chance to intercept.

The Jaguars' defence, on the other hand, worked tirelessly to deal with the oncoming Fireballs' attacks, but Kamogelo Maseko and Alice Kennon found opportunities to shoot and tallied up 17 goals to 30.

The Jaguars were more energetic in the third quarter when they made crucial changes in their line-up. Maseko was shifted from goal attack to wing attack, while Griesel Izette moved from wing attack to goal attack.

The Fireballs' goal shooters Tinita Van Dyk and Nomfundo Mngomezulu proved to be incredibly precise with their shooting, consistently finding the back of the net.

However, the Jaguars managed to score more goals in the quarter, closing the gap by scoring 13 goals, meanwhile the Fireballs only put eight in the net.

The final quarter of the match intensified and saw the Jaguars fixed on turning the tide in their favour.

Unfortunately for them, the champion side were equally determined to maintain their lead, the defensive duo of Boitumelo Mahloko and Gomases were exceptional in their ability to turn over possession by intercepting the Jaguars' passes.

With just five minutes remaining on the clock, the Jaguars came dangerously close to closing the gap, applying immense pressure on the reigning champions, but coach Elsje Jordaan’s team dug deep, displaying their championship mentality, and managed to hold on to their slim lead until the final whistle, winning by 45-44.

Monica Gomases, the Fireballs' goal defender, was rightfully awarded the player of the match for her outstanding interceptions and defensive prowess throughout the game.

RESULTS

Kingdom Queens 44-32 Sonoblomo

Tornados 47-37 Diamonds

Baobabs 49-43 Sunbirds

Crinums 59-33 Stars

Lilies 23-60 Comets

Jaguars 44-45 Fireballs