Telkom Netball League tips off at Sun City

The Telkom Netball League (TNL) tipped off at the iconic Sun City Super Bowl in the North West Province, marking the official start of South Africa’s most anticipated netball showcase.

The defending champions, Free State Crinums, kicked off their clash with a statement performance, defeating the SPAR Baby Proteas 58-46. The Crinums demonstrated clinical execution on both attack and defence, pulling away steadily after a competitive first half to secure a comfortable victory. The Crinums' dominance was a statement of intent.

Crinums Coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm: “I think it was a good game considering that this game was against the SPAR Baby Proteas. They were busy working hard, having lots of camps and we can’t go there undermining them.”

Meanwhile a promising start for the Baby Proteas was displayed.

“To start against the TNL Champs which is good, you are raising the standard and raising the bar. I think the girls put up some good knocks on the field, it has got to be physical, but they were able to stand up and stand their ground,” said SPAR Baby Proteas coach Precious Mthembu.

In another intense match, host team, the North West Flames clashed with the Zambezi Eagles from Zimbabwe, securing a hard-fought 51-46 win. Despite the Eagles' relentless efforts, the Flames held their nerve in the dying minutes to clinch the victory. The Flames held on and their resilience paid off in the end.

Elsunet du Plessis (Flames coach) said: “It was a very hard game, very physical game, I think the team really did well because I threw in a lot of different combinations, and I made a lot of different changes.”

The Zambezi Eagles learnt valuable lessons against tough match against Flames will serve as a growth opportunity.

Assistant coach Sithembole Banda (Zambezi Eagles) said: “Wow, it was a very close game ... we are here to learn. There are good things we have learned, new playing styles, we need to quickly adjust and change if need to be.”

Meanwhile, the Golden Fireballs produced a dominant display against the Limpopo Baobabs, claiming a commanding 71-35 victory. Their fluid attacking combinations and solid defensive pressure underlined their championship intentions this season.

Other match results

Mpumalanga Sunbirds 52-45 Free State Sonoblomo

Tornados 54-33 Northern Cape Diamonds

KZN derby delight: Kingdom Queens upset Kingdom Stars 47-36 in a thrilling encounter.

Southern Stings 62-34 Eastern Cape Aloes

With tight contests and commanding performances across the board, Saturday's results have set the tone for an exciting road ahead in the TNL. Teams will now regroup and strategies as the battle for top positions intensifies.

The Telkom Supershot made its debut at this year’s TNL, enhancing the excitement in the final two minutes of the first and third quarters with long-range goals worth two points.

Matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 channel 209.

Tickets are available on the Netball South Africa (NSA) website at just R100.

Sunday's fixtures

8am: Fireballs v Zambezi Eagles

8am: Baobabs v Crinums

10am: Tornados v KD Queens

10am: Diamonds v KD Stars

12pm: Jaguars v Flames

2pm: Tshukudu v Lillies

4pm: Comets v Sonoblomo

6pm: Baobabs v Stings

6pm: SPAR Baby Proteas v Fireballs