RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Johannesburg finished top of the log at the end of the round robin phase of the 2023 Spar National Netball Championships at Hoërskool Rustenburg on Thursday.
The defending champions remained unbeaten at the end of the fourth day. Their only hiccup was a 49-all draw against Mangaung on Tuesday, when they overcame a five-goal deficit in the final minutes.
Johannesburg started the fourth day with a thumping 66-43 win over Nelson Mandela Bay, after leading 37-22 at halftime. Later in the day, the team from Gauteng beat Tshwane, last year’s runners-up 55-36, after leading 28-19 at halftime.
Mangaung’s path to the semifinals was not quite as smooth. After drawing with Johannesburg in a match they should have won, they lost 51-46 to Dr Kenneth Kaunda on the second day and had to fight hard to beat Tshwane 54-53 on the third. But on the fourth day, they thumped Buffalo City 54-20 after leading 27-8 at halftime. 
Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who were top of the log after the second day, secured their semifinal berth with wins over Nelson Mandela Bay (69-36) and Cape Winelands (56-50). They will play Mangaung in the second semifinal.
There was a cutthroat battle between Tshwane and Cape Winelands for the fourth semifinal spot. They both won their morning matches, with Tshwane beating Buffalo City 73-29 and Cape Winelands beating Cape Town 62-39 and then went on to lose their afternoon matches. They finished on equal points, but Winelands went through because of a better goal average.
Tickets for the games will be available at the venue – R20 for adults and R10 for children. Selected matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4/Channel 209 (2-7 October).
(Photos: Reg Caldecott)
