Crinums and Tornados hold firm at the top of the log standings

Log leaders Crinums faced second placed Southern Stings in a highly anticipated clash on Tuesday in the Telkom Netball League Power Week 2. Five minutes into the match, the Crinums held a narrow 7-4 advantage before the game switched to a goal for goal exchange.

Both teams were clinical on attack, with the shooting circles boasting a 100% conversion rate halfway through the quarter. The Stings capitalized on a turnover late in the quarter for the first time in the last five minutes, however the Crinums regained momentum during the Super Shot, converting three standard single goals to lead 17-14 at the end of quarter one.

No changes were made at the start of the second quarter by both coaches. Stings Wing Defense Kelly du Toit won the first intercept of the quarter but wasn’t rewarded by the attacking side. Crinums Goal Attack Xandri Fourie was penalized for a held ball inside the shooting circle, though followed by a quick recovery through Stings Goalkeeper Kristen McGregor’s footwork error but a costly midcourt error allowed the Crinums to extend the lead by six goals before adding four unanswered goals to tighten the grip in the contest.

Stings coach Dr Freda Kemp responded with a strategic stoppage, urging her players to switch to man to man on defense but the Free State team continued with their fast-paced feeds into the circle and took a 36-23 lead at the break. The Stings lifted the tempo early in the third quarter, reducing the deficit from 14 goals to 10.

Their defensive pressure disrupted the Crinums’ attacking flow, in areas that had troubled them earlier in the match. The Crinums resorted to a more composed approach, wrestling momentum back in their favour before stretching the lead again. Despite the Stings' improved showing, they were narrowly outscored 15-12 ahead of the final quarter. The fourth quarter ended evenly at 17-17, with the Stings showing tremendous fight despite the Crinums overall dominance to clinch a 68-52 win.

Meanwhile, the Fireballs and the Kingdom Stars renewed their rivalry after the previous encounter ended in a five-goal victory for the Fireballs. Goal Attack, Nonsikelelo Mazibuko opened the scoring for the Fireballs following a Stars turnover but the Kingdom Stars responded immediately to get themselves onto the scoreboard. Both sides were clinical on goal during the open exchanges, however the Stars missed an opportunity to equalize after Mazibuko was penalized for holding, allowing the Fireballs to lead by two goals.

The Stars then showed greater patience with the ball and moved within one goal heading into the first Telkom Super shot. Fireballs Goal Shooter Tinita van Dyk converted a two-pointer and Stars Shooter Abigail Palombo responded with a single super shot as the Fireballs closed out the first quarter 12-10.

Dr Elsje Jordaan rang in two midcourt changes at the start of the second quarter, Tarle Mathe moved to Wing Defense and Sanele Ntobela took over the Center position for the Fireballs and the adjustments certainly paid off as the Kingdom Stars were restricted to just one goal in the first five minutes.

This triggered two midcourt changes and one shooting change for the KZN side. Jordan Buys moved from Wing Attack to Center, replaced by Tanna de Freitas and Amanda Ntshangase teamed up with Nomfundo Mngomezulu on Goal Shooter. It became a bruising battle in the Stars shooting circle, with the Fireballs defensive combo of Boitumelo Mahloko and Cornelia Mupenda mounting pressure.

Although the Stars managed to win possession, they struggled to land the ball safely inside their shooting circle. Mazibuko missed from the two-point zone during the Super Shot and Van Dyk was blown for a footwork error but the Stars still failed to capitalize and were nine goals behind at half-time.

The Stars endured a frustrating third quarter as they managed to score only two goals by the halfway mark. Despite the Fireballs working tirelessly defensively, leading by 13 goals in the last two minutes of the quarter, coach Jordaan called for strategic stoppage, urging her side to tidy up on attack.

The Stars showed a glimpse of defensive resilience in the last quarter and forced three turnovers that they all lost in their goal third, which has been a recurring issue since the second quarter. Ten minutes into the fourth quarter, the Fireballs had only edged the Stars 5-2, underlining the tightly contested nature of the game however, the Gauteng based team had already put in a decent shift all round to walk away with a 47-29 win.

In Division two, the unbeaten Tornados were pushed to the limit by the Baobabs in an edge of the seat encounter that went right down to the wire and ultimately decided by the final super shot as the log leaders escaped with a dramatic one-goal victory. The Tornados opened the match with intent to take a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Although the Baobabs showed promising defensive set ups early in the second quarter by leveling the score, The Tornados came hard at them, forcing the Limpopo side wide and went eight goals up just before the second Super Shot. Baobabs Goal Shooter Rochelle Maree converted three two-pointers while the Tornados scored a single shot to take a three-goal lead at half-time.

The Western Cape team struggled with the second phase in the third quarter but they were still able to maintain their lead and extend it by five goals. The Baobabs’ defensive efforts proved crucial as they won a turnover through a held ball call. To top it off, Maree converted four more goals during the super shot period to help her side stay within four goals at the end of the championship quarter. The final quarter delivered a breathtaking finish, Baobabs Wing Attack Jessica Matjiu snatched a brilliant intercept and the team converted their center pass and trailed by three goals.

More unforced errors from the Tornados came in as Goal Shooter Liandre Kriel lost her footing to make it a one goal game just before the final Super shot.

What followed was a dramatic exchange of super shots, Maree converted a two-pointer to hand the Baobabs a one goal lead before Tornados Goal Attack Rochelle Rossouw responded with a two-pointer of her own to reclaim the lead.

Maree answered again with another clutch super shot to restore the Baobabs lead but with the final moments ticking away, Kriel held her nerve to sink the decisive two points and secure a dramatic 58-57 victory for the Tornados.

RESULTS

Sonoblomo 50-48 Queens

Comets 43-57 Tshukudu

Aloes 44-52 Jaguars

Flames 47-58 Zambezi Eagles

Stars 29-47 Fireballs

Tornados 57-58 Baobabs

Stings 52-68 Crinums