BONUS – RUSTENBURG – With a pulsating 46-40 victory over Mangaung on Saturday, Johannesburg retained the title they won in Potchefstroom last year, as winners of the 2023 Spar National Netball Championships.
Johannesburg got off to a flying start, scoring six goals before the Free State team scored their first. Mangaung took eight minutes to get on the scoreboard, but then scored four unanswered goals. By the end of the first quarter, Johannesburg led 15-6.
Coach Dr Elsje Jordaan said they had wanted to get off to a good start and put pressure on Mangaung early on.
“It was a bit of a blitzkrieg and it worked. Scoreboard pressure is something else and it consumes a lot of energy to play catch-up netball,” said Jordaan.
“It almost worked like a fairy story. They came back strongly in the second and third quarters, but we took control again in the fourth.
“This is the third year of our journey and I believe we are just getting stronger. We have a mixture of youth and experience and will develop from there.”
It’s been a very hot week in Rustenburg, but it’s been a week of fun, of good netball and of identifying talents – not just the players, but coach and officials as well.
Earlier, Dr Kenneth Kaunda narrowly beat Cape Winelands 53-52 in the play-off for the third place bronze medal.
Best players (Senior): Best Shooter – Sian Moore (Cape Winelands), Best Mid-Court Player – Monica Gomases (Johannesburg), Best Defender – Ané Retief (Mangaung), Player of the Tournament – Owethu Ngubane (Johannesburg), Most Developed – Kamogelo Moiloe (Bojanala).
