Fireballs continue to reign in TNL

The Telkom Netball League (TNL) kicked off Power Week 3 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), with intense matches that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

The Golden Fireballs showcased their dominance in an electrifying match, outperforming the Aloes in all aspects of the game. After a closely contested first quarter (13-13), the Fireballs took control, with coach Dr Elsje Jordaan making crucial changes that paid off. The team's impressive performance sealed a convincing 64-40 win.

Standout performances came from Jeante Strydom, who had a stellar game with impressive interceptions and Owethu Ngubane made a notable impact and was awarded the Player of the Match accolade.

The Fireballs' execution proved to be a winning formula and they remain undefeated. "We have got a good vibe in the camp at the moment. Confidence is good. We trust each other when we're out there. But we take it game by game," said Jordaan.

Reigning 2025 USSA champion coach and Fireballs assistant coach Bongi Msomi added: “We know that the big play-offs are coming and we want to make sure that we end the pool games well, so that by semi-final time, we're as sharp as possible."

Meanwhile, the Aloes' coach, Sameisha Esau, reflected on her team's performance: "I think my girls really had a good start but we could not sustain that performance throughout the whole match. We weren't clinical in our play, and having to work twice for our centre passes is a concern. We'll go back and look at how we can capitalise on our centre passes."

The Stings and Crinums clashed in the last match of the day, with the Stings initially taking a one-goal lead in the first quarter, 12-11. However, the Crinums regained control and dominated the match after impactful changes in the third quarter, including Zandre Smit's introduction at GS. The Crinums' strong performance paid off, securing a convincing nine-goal win, 44-53.

Stings coach Dr Freda Kemp said: "Obviously, I'm not happy with the loss ... We can't afford to make any mistakes. We turned the ball and then we lost possession down court. So that's really something we have to clean up going forward."

Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm added: "We struggled in our shooting circle but I'm happy with the intensity and how hard we fought for each ball. Team effort pulled us through today."

In Division 2, the Tornados had a fantastic day on the court, securing two impressive victories. In a nail-biting encounter, they edged out the Kingdom Queens by a single goal, winning 42-41. The Tornados then went on to dominate the Lillies, winning 57-27 in a commanding display of dexterity. The Tornados' wins secured their position at the summit of the Division 2 log.

Tshukudu continued their winning streak with a convincing 43-37 victory over the Diamonds, demonstrating their strength and consistency in the league and the likelihood of booking their spot in the playoffs.

The TNL is shaping up to be an exciting competition, with teams battling it out for top spot. The action continues Tuesday, with more exciting matches expected.

Results

D2: KD Queens 41-42 Tornados

D2: Sonoblomo 53-54 Sunbirds

D2: Diamonds 37-43 Tshukudu

D2: KD Stars 54-29 Comets

D1: Fireballs 64-40 Aloes

D2: Tornados 57-37 Lilies

D1: Stings 44-53 Crinums

Fixtures

7am – D2: Comets v KD Queens

9am – D2: Lilies v KD Stars

11am – D2: Sunbirds v Diamonds

1pm – D1: Flames v Jaguars

3pm – D1: Stings v Baobabs

5pm – D2: KD Queens v Tshukudu

7pm – D2: Sonoblomo v Comets