By KARABO MOKGALAGADI
16 July 2025- Day 3 of the Telkom Netball League at the Durban ICC featured an intense match where the Crinums triumphed over the Jaguars 55-44, continuing their championship defence. The Crinums secured an early lead with effective gameplay and stellar super shots, while the Jaguars faced issues with shooting consistency and accumulated 52 penalties.
Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Sam highlighted their strong start: “The first quarter was amazing. We built a nine-goal lead, giving us a significant advantage. Our focus is on the semi-finals, but we’ll prepare for the Baobabs next.”
Jaguars coach Rozanne Matthyse acknowledged the need for improvement: “We must deliver solid performances. We’re in the top four, but we need to reflect and improve for the semifinals.”
The Jaguars will face the Aloes, while the Crinums will take on the Baobabs in their final matches before the semi-finals next Friday. In another match that kept the masses on the edge of their seats was the match between the Golden Fireballs and North West Flame.
The Fireballs advanced to the semi-finals with a flawless run, culminating in a 62-45 win over the North West Flames. The Fireballs showcased outstanding tactical awareness and ability, with only 12 turnovers and eight interceptions.
Fireballs coach Dr Elsje Jordaan expressed her pride, saying: “I’m extremely proud of my players, the way they showed relentlessness and resilience to pull themselves back under pressure. We really needed this win, and I thought our performance was brilliant.”
In contrast, Flames coach Elsunet Du Plessis reflected on his team’s performance, stating, “We had very good first three quarters…We unfortunately had too many unforced errors and did not finish off our scoring opportunities.”
The win secures the Fireballs’ spot in the semi-finals, while the Flames will now compete in the playoffs for positions 5 and 6, looking to maintain their momentum.
Division 2 wrap
The Sunbirds dominated the Comets 45-31 in a physical, fast-paced match. Their composure and accuracy in the shooting circle proved decisive, particularly in the second half. Despite a strong second-quarter fight from the Comets, the Sunbirds’ defence and confident shooting under pressure secured the win. The Comets showed promising fight spirit, highlighting their potential despite still seeking their first win in the third and final Power Week.
In an exciting KZN Derby match, the Kingdom Stars dominated the Kingdom Queens 55-32, showcasing exceptional defence and clinical finishing. The Stars’ defensive structure was rock-solid, and their circle defence created ample scoring opportunities. The Stars’ dominance in the KZN Derby was evident, and they left the arena on a high note. The match highlighted key areas for improvement for the Queens, particularly in shooting percentages and capitalising on defensive efforts.
Meanwhile, the Tornados, who currently top the log standings in Division 2, secured a convincing 45-35 win over Tshukudu, avenging their previous loss to the same team.
According to Tornado’s coach Lucy Twani, the match was a confidence booster and an opportunity to prove their team’s strategy. “We needed to show that we can beat them,” Twani said. “By sticking to our game plan, we proved to ourselves that it works. We just need to do it repeatedly, backing each other and trusting the plan.”
The Tornados’ 10-goal difference victory showcased their dominance, solidifying their position in the semifinals. Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for Coach Vivian Foko, who has one more round robin encounter against the Comets.
The Durban ICC was electric as spectators came in numbers to support their home teams, singing and cheering on their favourite players.
End –
Wednesday, 16 July 2025: Results:
07:00 – D2: Diamonds 46 – 35 Lilies
09:00 – D2: Tshukudu 35 – 45 Tornados
11:00 – D1: Fireballs 62 – 45 Flames
13:00 – D2: Kingdom Queens 32 – 55 Kingdoms Stars
15:00 – D2: Sunbirds 45 – 31 Comets
17:00 – D1: Jaguars 44 vs 55 Crinums
19:00 – D2: Lilies 34 – 61 Sonoblomo
Thursday 17 July 2025 Fixtures:
07:00 – D2: Comets vs Tshukudu
09:00 – D2: Sonoblomo vs Kingdom Queens
11:00 – D1: Crinums vs Baobabs
13:00 – D1: Stings vs Fireballs
15:00 – D1: Jaguars vs Aloes
17:00 – D2: Kingdom Stars vs Sunbirds
19:00 – D2: Diamonds vs Tornados
The Guardian 