The Jaguars, Fireballs and the Sunbirds came out victorious in Thursday's Telkom Netball League action at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.
The Fireballs and the Stings match lived up to expectations from the first whistle, with both sides producing a highly competitive first quarter.
The teams matched each other by retaining their centre passes early on and the first error of the game came through a pick up by Fireballs Wing Défense Jeante Strydom, but the Stings reacted quickly to recover possession and keep the battle evenly balanced.
Fireballs' Goalkeeper then made her presence felt with an important turnover inside the Stings shooting circle to open a two-goal lead for her side.
The Stings continued to search for a breakthrough turnover, but a contact call against Centre Amber Coraizin allowed the Fireballs to stretch the lead to four goals.
However, the Stings responded well by switching gears and reduced the deficit to just one goal before the super shot period.
Fireballs' Goal Attack Nonsikelelo Mazibuko converted a two-pointer before Stings Goal Attack Nichole Breedt answered with her own two-pointer.
Fireballs' Goal Shooter Tinita Van Dyk then sank a single shot to ensure her side carried a three-goal lead.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern to the opening quarter, with the exchange of goals but a miscommunication in the Stings shooting circle allowed the Fireballs to regain control and restore their four-goal lead five minutes into the quarter.
The next phase became a defensive battle as the sides continued to go goal for goal, but a wayward feed from Breedt saw the Stings trail by six goals.
The Fireballs capitalised fully during the super shot, Mazibuko slotted two two-pointers, while Van Dyk added another two-pointer to increase the pressure on the Stings.
Although Stings Goal Shooter Sian Moore scored a two-pointer, the Fireballs led 35-26 at halftime.
The third quarter turned into a fierce defensive battle, with both sides lifting their intensity at the back. Both teams were guilty of losing possession at times, it ultimately came down to which side would remain composed under pressure.
With the Stings trailing by eight goals, coach Dr Freda Kemp called for strategic stoppage and asked her players to play it safe.
The quarter remained tightly contested throughout, with both teams scoring fourteen goals apiece ahead of the last quarter.
The Stings had a mammoth task ahead of turning a nine-goal deficit in the last quarter, coach Kemp introduced Simone Dry on Goal Shooter to try claw their way back into the game.
Even when errors were creeping in, Fireballs coach Dr Elsje Jordaan called for strategic time out to bring her side back to order, urging her players to finish strong.
Despite the Stings effort to shift momentum, the Fireballs had done enough to secure a 62-47 victory with Mazibuko being named the Player of the match after scoring four two-pointers during the super shot periods.
The Fireballs continue to build momentum 🔥 as they take a 62-47 win over the Stings. Nonsikelelo Mazibuko delivers another strong performance for the Fireballs winning her second POTM award. pic.twitter.com/aHr8KMtMvo
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) May 28, 2026
JAGUARS EDGE FLAMES
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Jaguars held their nerve to walk away with a one-goal victory after beating the Flames 46-45.
The game opened with a tight tussle between the two sides in the first quarter, but the Jaguars roared to life and started pulling away due to their defensive hustle which saw them open a five-goal lead before the first super shot.
Jaguars’ Goal Shooter Luane Smith scored the first two-pointer, while her shooting partner Thato Legodi missed a two-point attempt which allowed the Flames to reduce the gap to just two goals following Goal Attack’s Sunel Smit’s two-pointer at the end of the first quarter.
The Jaguars outclassed the Flames in the early stages of the second quarter and scored three unanswered goals.
The North West side managed to absorb the early pressure and pushed to fight back even when the Jaguars formed tricky defensive walls which delayed them from entering the circle, but the Flames remained unfazed.
Flames Wing Defense Christi-Mari Coetzee fought harder for the side and read play perfectly and grabbed an intercept to allow Smit to add two more two-pointers during the super shot to cut the deficit to just one goal at halftime.
Flames Goalkeeper Vivian Venancio opened the third quarter with a crucial intercept that helped level matters, but the Jaguars quickly regained control as Centre Caroline Paul came up with an intercept of her own to give her side a two-goal lead.
Matters worsened for the Flames shortly thereafter when Kwezi Lubisi stepped on the line, allowing the Jaguars to take a four-goal lead.
The North West team continued to be punished for their untidy attacking play, with Jaguars Goal Attack Thato Legodi stealing a goal third intercept.
Even when the Flames managed to force turnovers, they were plagued by missed shots preventing them from cutting the deficit, as the Jaguars opened up a seven-goal cushion.
No changes were made for both sides in the final quarter, with Jaguars pulling out all the stops defensively to disrupt the Flames’ attackers.
The physical intensity even led to Jaguars Wing Defense Phophi Nematangari receiving a warning for repeated contact.
The Flames had done well to move within two goals just before the final super shot, Smit converted yet another two-pointer, but Nematangari denied the Flames another opportunity to stage a comeback by winning a turnover in the final seconds, to hand the Jaguars a one-goal win.
Right down to the final whistle 👏 The Jaguars hold on to edge the Flames by a single goal (46-45) in a thrilling finish. Caroline Paul at the heart of it all winning her first PORTM award. pic.twitter.com/J6aMYAqE5v
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) May 28, 2026
SUNBIRDS FLY
In Division two, the Mpumalanga Sunbirds registered two back-to-back victories after beating Tshukudu 54-42.
It was a safe start for both sides, but the Sunbirds eventually proved a class above when they took a four-goal lead after capitalising on Tshukudu’s ball placement errors halfway through the quarter.
The Sunbirds had better ball control despite both teams sitting on a hundred shooting per centage, but the difference laid in the attempts, with Tshukudu struggling to create more opportunities to convert.
The Sunbirds claimed three goals from the first super shot period to take an early 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter proved far more competitive, with both sides matching each other with intensity, ending the quarter 10-10. While turnovers continued to creep into both teams’ play, the sides showed resilience by recovering possession and limiting damage defensively.
The only two-pointer of the quarter came through Sunbirds Goal Attack Kelly Ann Gouws which gave the Mpumalanga side a seven-goal lead at halftime.
The defensive battle rolled into the third quarter as the teams shared 13 goals apiece.
Tshukudu succeeded in forcing the Sunbirds to recycle possession at times, but the Sunbirds continued to display superior ball control and patience on attack.
The ability to remain persistent on defense is also what kept Tshukudu in the game ahead of the last quarter despite trailing 40-33.
There was, however, no slowing down the Sunbirds in the fourth quarter as their attacking unit took full control of the proceedings. Tshukudu introduced more defensive changes in an attempt to contain the damage, while their coach Vivian Foko also called for strategic stoppage, urging her players to utilize the pockets effectively.
From the timeout, with three minutes remaining, the Sunbirds had outscored Tshukudu 8-3 and there was no way back into the contest for the North West side.
The Sunbirds keep flying high 👏 After yesterday’s big result, they back it up with another strong win (54-42) over Tshukudu. Siphokazi Madonsela put on a defensive masterclass 🏆 A commanding performance earns her POTM honours. pic.twitter.com/uwSdN92lMe
— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) May 28, 2026
FULL RESULTS:
Sonoblomo 70-36 Lilies
Tornados 54-51 Diamonds
Baobabs 54-43 Queens
Aloes 39-67 Crinums
Flames 45-46 Jaguars
Sunbirds 54-42 Tshukudu
Stings 47-62 Fireballs