Picture: Netball players duirng the match/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
2 December 2024- Two-time defending champions Johannesburg were untroubled on the opening day of the SPAR National Netball Championships, hosted by the City of Johannesburg on Monday.
The home side comfortably won both of their two opening matches. Their first encounter was against eThekwini, a side new to the A section after competing in the B division last year. The KZN team battled to keep up with the defending champions who, despite some inaccurate shooting, managed to claim a 69-35 victory.
It was then on to a Jukskei Derby against Tshwane. Some may have expected a closer match between the two, but the Johannesburg side raced to a 21-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
Tshwane did improve during the course of the match and even won the final quarter by one goal, but that first-quarter deficit was just too large to make up, with Johannesburg ultimately winning 63-42.
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain, Dr Elsjé Jordaan said afterwards she was happier with her side’s second match of the day.
“I’m pretty pleased. I think we were better in the second game on rounding off – working so hard, punishing them and then getting the reward. The calmer the shooters are when they receive the ball, the more accurate they become.
“But it is challenging – it is quite hot out there and it’s physical so it’s about running legs and running players. As soon as you think a player is settling, you realise you need to make a change,” she said.
Jordaan said whoever is going to win this will be the team that manages their team the best. She further said in terms of consistency, they are still not where they want to be, but she thinks overall a good first day for them.
Tshwane coach Erin Burger explained that several players were unavailable for the side, but she believes the team will improve as the tournament progresses. They claimed a 48-42 victory over the South African under-21 side, who are also competing in the A section, before their loss to Johannesburg.
“It’s a new team and I think they’ve got a lot to give. It’s just to get the combinations to settle and to settle in under pressure.
“I think as the tournament goes, we’ll get stronger as a team as they get to know each other under pressure on court,” added Burger.
Burger agreed with Jordaan’s sentiments regarding the heat.
“This is still the start, it’s a long week. The heat is going to play a big role. I think the changes you make as a coach, how the bench comes on court, is going to play such a big role later,” she said.
Meanwhile, apart from Johannesburg, the other teams to retain a clean sheet with two victories on the opening day were Cape Town, who beat Ekurhuleni 57-45 and Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51-47 and Cape Winelands, who were thrilled with their 51-46 victory over last year’s runner-up Mangaung after beating Nelson Mandela Bay 56-24 in their opener.
The Guardian 