The University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall played host to another thrilling day of Telkom Netball League action as Power Week three commenced.
The Flames and the Aloes were looking to finish their campaign on a high as both teams faced off in a 5th/6th positional playoff match. Both teams adopted a measured approach in the first quarter, but the difference lay in the shooting accuracy, as the Aloes were more clinical, allowing them to stretch the lead to five goals at the end of the opening quarter.
The Aloes maintained their momentum, preserving their five-goal lead during the first five minutes of the second quarter. The defensive combination of Goal Defense Noluthando Maliehe and Goalkeeper Juanita Van Tonder came to the fore, forcing two consecutive turnovers inside the Flames' shooting circle to help extend the lead to seven goals.
The Flames had an opportunity to respond, but an intercept by their Goal Defense Christi-Mari Coetzee went unrewarded after Goal Attack Sunel Smit lost her footing.
Miscommunication within the Flames’ shooting circle between Smit and Goal Shooter Lubisi Kwezi further disrupted their attacking flow, prompting tactical changes that saw Smit move to Goal Shooter and Andrya Joubert return to Goal Attack.
The adjustments injected fresh energy into the Flames’ attacking unit, with the changes in the shooting circle beginning to yield positive results. The Flames gradually chipped away at the deficit and produced an impressive comeback to trail by just one goal at halftime.
The third quarter evolved into a defensive masterclass, particularly from the Aloes’ defensive pairing of Maliehe and Van Tonder. Working in tandem, they disrupted the Flames attacking rhythm with turnovers. Van Tonder secured two more consecutive intercepts, while Maliehe added an important pick up to keep up the pressure.
Despite their defensive brilliance, the Aloes were unable to fully capitalise on the opportunities. The Flames’ defenders worked tirelessly to contain Aloes Shooter Zandre Smit, who is often instrumental in converting, especially during the super shot period. The Flames’ defensive resilience paid off at the opposite end of the court, and a successful single shot saw them edge ahead 32-31 heading into the final quarter.
The North West team was unstoppable in the fourth quarter; their defensive prowess forced the Aloes to keep recycling the ball back as they tried to get the ball inside the shooting circle. The multiple passes allowed the Flames to thrive on turnovers, which were simply converted by Smit, which steered the side to an emphatic 51-37 victory and claimed fifth position in Division One.
TSHUKUDU EDGE DIAMONDS
In Division Two, Tshukudu held their nerve in a dramatic finish to edge the Diamonds 41-40 and claimed fifth place after an enthralling contest. Tshukudu came flying out of the blocks, leading by five goals in the opening two minutes as the Diamonds struggled to find their rhythm.
It took the Diamonds three minutes to register their first goal, with unforced errors and turnovers disrupting their flow. However, midway through the first quarter, the Diamonds began to settle into the match. Improved ball security and stronger defensive efforts allowed them to reduce the margin to two goals. Despite the Diamonds' resurgence, Tshukudu still took a 13-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter developed into a fascinating contest, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. Momentum shifted repeatedly as both teams traded goals and exchanged slender leads. The Diamonds briefly edged in front before Tshukudu responded, setting up a tense finish to the half. With both teams matching each other stride for stride, the score was locked at 23-23 at halftime.
The second half of the match remained delicately poised, especially in the last 15 minutes of the game. The scores were level at 34-34 with 10 minutes left to play before Tshukudu produced three unanswered goals to establish a crucial lead.
The Diamonds refused to back down, with their Wing Defense Debora Kitenge stepping up to secure an intercept that helped restore parity. From there, the encounter evolved into a gripping back-and-forth affair, with both sides battling for possession. Locked at 40-40 heading into the decisive super shot period, defensive pressure intensified as intercepts proved pivotal at both ends of the court.
In the end, Tshukudu held their composure after sinking a single shot and played the ball around until the final whistle, securing a narrow one-goal win.
SUNBIRDS TOO STRONG FOR COMETS
Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Sunbirds and the Eastern Cape Comets played against each other for positions seven and eight. The opening quarter began evenly, with Sunbirds edging ahead 4-3 after the first five minutes.
The Comets had an opportunity to equalize after Centre Edon Snyman produced an intercept, but the shooters failed to convert. Goal Attack Bronwyn appeared hesitant to release her shots, allowing the Sunbirds to build a four-goal cushion. Comets coach Prisca Kanetsi-Makamole introduced Bianca Blom on Goal Shooter and the change proved effective as the Eastern Cape side reduced the deficit to just two goals with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Sunbirds held a narrow 10-9 lead heading into the super shot period, but Blom shifted momentum dramatically by sinking two two-pointers to propel the Comets into a 15-10 lead at the first break.
The second quarter remained fiercely contested with both sides showing resilience by regaining possession after committing unforced errors. The Sunbirds trailed by only two goals before the second super shot window, but Blom once again delivered under pressure, converting another two long-range efforts to hand the Comets a slender 26-25 lead at halftime.
The Mpumalanga side found a way back into the contest in the third quarter after capitalising on a held ball call against the Comets to level the scores. With six minutes left in the quarter, only three goals separated the sides in favour of the Comets.
Edon, who had shifted to Wing Attack from Centre, came up with another crucial intercept that helped the Comets stretch the lead to four goals. Sunbirds Goal Attack Kelly-Ann Gouws kept her side firmly in contention by converting three two-pointers to close the gap to just one goal ahead of the final quarter.
The Sunbirds carried the momentum into the closing stages, stepping up the intensity to establish a three-goal lead. With the Comets appearing unsettled on attack and their Shooters lacking confidence in front of goal, coach Prisca called for a strategic stoppage to regroup.
Despite the Comets' attempts to recover, the Sunbirds continued to play with vigor and transitioned effectively through the court and extended their lead to six goals. Although Blom added another two-pointer for the Comets, it proved insufficient. The Sunbirds opted for the safer one-point opportunities to maintain control and eventually sealed a well-earned 55-49 victory.
RESULTS:
Flames 51-37 Aloes
Diamonds 40-41 Tshukudu
Sunbirds 55-49 Comets