Cape Town – Tshwane, Cape Town, Mangaung, and Johannesburg have all clinched their spots in the semi-finals with one match remaining in the round-robin stage of the SPAR National Netball Championships taking place in Cape Town.
Tshwane extended their winning streak by defeating four-time reigning champions Johannesburg 53-46 on Sunday, wrapping up the fourth day of the Championships at the top of the leaderboard.
The Pretoria team dominated the first half, leading 32-20 at halftime, but their momentum slowed in the second half, allowing Joburg to take the final quarter by five goals.
However, this was not sufficient to overcome the 2020 champions.
Tshwane’s coach, Rozanne Matthyse, expressed contentment with her team’s performance throughout the tournament, while pointing out concerns about lapses in focus during the second halves of several matches.
“Our goal entering this tournament was to set a standard, and I believe we’ve achieved that,” Matthyse remarked.
“From the very first match, we were clear about what we wanted to achieve… I often emphasize the process, viewing it as hurdles we must clear to eventually reach the semi-finals.
“At this point, we are confident in our standing and where we are in the standings, but we understand we still have three more matches to secure our position.”
In regard to her team’s tendency to lose momentum in the final stages of matches, Matthyse commented: “It appears that in the third and fourth quarters, we often start off rather sluggishly.
“I need to delve into this to identify the underlying issues and understand where we’re lacking.
“Sometimes, it seems they become complacent, entering the third quarter with the belief that a lead gives them freedom to relax… This attitude can boost opponents’ confidence.”
Earlier that day, Tshwane recorded a victory over the Alfred Nzo team with a score of 39-28, despite the match being interrupted by heavy rain and stopped at the beginning of the third quarter.
Johannesburg also secured a win earlier by defeating North West’s Kenneth Kaunda team, ending with a score of 53-45.
The host team, Cape Town, celebrated two decisive victories on Sunday, first overcoming eThekwini 68-34 and later winning against Alfred Nzo with a score of 72-44, finishing the day in second place on the standings.
Cape Town’s assistant coach, former SPAR Proteas defender Phumza Maweni, shared her pleasure with her team’s performance as they gear up for the playoffs.
“I’m genuinely happy. We’ve put in the effort for this,” Maweni stated.
“We’ve focused on combinations, and these two games really clarified who can perform until the end.
“At this stage, we are very pleased with our current lineup and eagerly looking forward…”
With South Africa observing National Women’s Day on Sunday, Maweni noted that there’s no better way to celebrate the occasion than during the SPAR National Netball Championships, honoring the nation’s sportswomen.
“Being athletes among women who inspire you and acknowledge your leadership is monumental. Hosting the tournament on Women’s Day holds special significance for female athletes,” Maweni commented.
“Many children look up to the SPAR Proteas, so being role models is significant. Our connections with them also allow us to learn from their experiences.
“I believe SPAR is doing a fantastic job of uniting all women under one banner on this day, which is truly special for women in sports.”
With the semi-finalists already identified, Monday morning’s final round-robin matches will determine the playoff matchups.
Additionally, in the under-21 A section, two-time defending champions Johannesburg continued their quest for a third title with a convincing victory of 63-23 over Ekurhuleni.
Results
Senior A section
Cape Town 68 – 34 eThekwini
Alfred Nzo 28 – 39 Tshwane
Johannesburg 53 – 45 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Nelson Mandela Bay 35 – 52 Mangaung
Cape Town 72 – 44 Alfred Nzo
Tshwane 53 – 46 Johannesburg
Botswana 49 – 50 Mangaung
eThekwini 29 – 36 Nelson Mandela Bay
Namibia 60 – 44 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Under-21 A section
Johannesburg 63 – 23 Ekurhuleni
Tshwane 51 – 40 Royal Bafokeng
Mangaung 51 – 37 Cape Town
Ekurhuleni 28 – 28 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
SPAR International Netball Championships Google Information Hub Link: https://shorturl.at/zCstu
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