SPAR Proteas fall short against Silver Ferns

Silver Ferns continued their dominance over the SPAR Proteas as they recorded their 38th win over the South Africans with a 70-58 victory on Wednesday. They take a 2-0 lead in a three-match series with one more game left.

SPAR Proteas came into the second Test against Silver Ferns as wounded soldiers following their defeat in the first match. Head coach Jenny van Dyk made a couple of changes in her starting seven with the inclusion Elmere van der Berg, Tarle Mathe and Jamie van Wyk to the team that started the opening match.

South Africa used their speed and quick passes to their advantage and the visitors enjoyed a two-point lead before New Zealand could reply. The game plan from SPAR Proteas seemed to be yielding the desired results as they took control of the quarter, however Silver Ferns clawed their way back into the game but time wasn’t on their side as SPAR Proteas took the first quarter 15-14. This was the first time in 10 Tests that New Zealand has lost a first quarter.

Silver Ferns finished the first quarter strongly and kept their momentum in the second quarter and displayed their experience as they were very quick to get off the mark in an attempt to recover and get back in the game. SPAR Proteas held their own as well and pushed as much as they could however it was Silver Ferns who clinched the quarter 20-13 and went into half-time leading 34-28

The championship quarter came with a few tired legs and Van Dyk made a few changes and brought in fresh legs and rotated her team slightly. But tt the end of the quarter, it was Silver Ferns that who enjoyed an unsaleable lead of 53-42 overall. In the last quarter, SPAR Proteas players knew that they had to throw everything at New Zealand to try and regain the lead and try salvage a win and sadly this wasn’t meant to be as Silver Ferns won the match by 12 goals.

Fixtures (SAST)

New Zealand v South Africa on Sunday @ 9.40am – NZ won 77-51

New Zealand v South Africa on Wednesday @ 9.40am – NZ won 70-58

New Zealand v South Africa on Sunday @ 9.40am

All matches will be televised on SuperSport.

SPAR Proteas Squad

Khanyisa Chawane (capt), Nicholé Breedt, Entle Futshane, Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa, Nozipho Ntshangase, Nicola Smith, Rolene Streutker, Elmeré van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe, Juanita van Tonder, Jamie van Wyk, Sanmarie Visser.