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IOL News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Gauteng Fireballs scorch through first week of Telkom Netball League unbeaten
Olwethu Ngubane of Fireballs shoots for goal as Martine Jordaan of the Flames defends during their Telkom Netball League clash at the Sun City Superbowl on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Golden Fireballs ended the first round of the Telkom Netball League (TNL) 2025 at the Sun City SuperBowl, as the only unbeaten team, topping the Division 1 log. Defending champions the Free State Crinums are firmly in the frame. However, a shock 57-49 capitulation against invitation side the Zambezi Eagles yesterday put a damper on their title defence. The result does not count towards the log standings, though. The Eagles flew out of the blocks to lead 21-5 at the end of the first quarter and 34-15 at half-time. The Crinums slowly clawed their way back into the game, however, pulling within 13 points at the end of the third quarter. The deficit proved just too much to overcome for the Free State side in the end, as the Zimbabwean team kept their cool to secure the upset win. Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm admitted that her side had underestimated their rivals. "We had a terrible start but I'm going to take good lessons out of this," she said in her post-match interview. "After being 19 goals down and coming back and just losing by eight goals, I think the championship mentality is there. Thank God this one doesn't count. "We took a dip and it happens in a very long leg like this. And well done to the Zambezi Eagles, they came very hard at us. "We struggled a lot with their style of play. I think we adapted a little too late, so lesson learned. We learn more when we lose than when we win." The Fireballs once again showcased exceptional composure and creativity in securing a 62-57 win over the North West Flames in their last match of the first round on Saturday. They took an early lead in the first quarter and maintained that momentum. Player of the Match Owethu 'Sammy' Ngubane scored four out of four Telkom Supershots, worth two points, for the Fireballs and Caitlin du Plessis scored three for the Flames. Fireballs coach Dr Elsje Jordaan said: "Well done to the Flames, I thought they brought their A- game, and they really gave us a great match. These are the games that we need to prepare, and the fight that the players showed was tremendous." "We put a plan in place (for the Supershots), and Sammy played it well. Giving confidence to shooters is key." The Flames were able to bounce back from Saturday's defeat with a 58-56 win over the Aloes early on Sunday morning. The result consigned the Aloes to back-to-back losses. They were mauled 57-47 by the Gauteng Jaguars on Saturday. The Aloes led 12-10 in the first quarter, but the Jaguars made a remarkable comeback. Aloes coach Sameshia Esau said: "We had a good start, but the Jaguars came back strong in the second quarter. "The third quarter was the turning point, and the Jaguars dominated the last quarter. Individually, our players performed well, but we need to work on consistency and goal-shooting percentages." The Aloes are still searching for a first win of the competition. The Jaguars, last year's beaten finalists, have lost three of their six matches so far. However, they have only grown stronger as the competition has progressed. Coach Rozanne Matthyse said after the win over the Aloes: "We worked on some things, and I'm happy that we got those things done. "I knew we were going to win this game, and we pulled through. I'm happy with the performance and well done to the Aloes for giving us a good game, especially in the first three quarters." The Jaguars' defensive effort was impressive, with nine intercepts. Jamie van Wyk was named Player of the Match. Power Week 2 takes place from June 13 to 17. Southern Stings goalkeeper Entle Futshane goes airborne in an attempt to block a Crinums shot in their 53-39 loss against the reigning champions. Image: Netball South Africa
The Star
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Champs Crinums bounce back with commanding win over Flames in Telkom Netball League
Rowan Callaghan | Published 3 hours ago Defending champions the Free State Crinums bounced back quickly from their only loss so far of Power Week 1 of the Telkom Netball League (TNL), with a 68-45 win over the North West Flames on day six. The Golden Fireballs had handed the log leaders a shock 50-45 loss in their top-of-the-table clash. The Crinums were back to their imperious best with a commanding performance against the Flames at the Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg, North West. The team's dominance was evident throughout the game, with the Flames struggling to keep up. The Crinums' attack was relentless, with 80 attempts compared to the Flames' 53. The Crinums' defence was solid, forcing three held balls and eight interceptions. This strong defensive display was a key factor in their victory. Coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm said: 'I'm very proud of the girls, it was a big win for us, we needed it.' She also highlighted the importance of giving fringe players opportunities, allowing them to feel the pressure of playing against a big team. The Flames seemed to lose momentum after the first quarter, allowing the Crinums to take control of the game. Coach Elsunet du Plessis acknowledged that her team were inconsistent, but saw positive aspects of their performance. She said: 'I think we were too inconsistent... but still there were passages of play that were very good and we can build on that.' She emphasised the need for her team to refocus and come back stronger. The Gauteng Jaguars, who have won the tournament six times, are slowly finding form after a poor start. They outclassed the Baobabs 65-38, after seeing off the Zambezi Eagles 56-49. The team's early dominance of the Baobabs set the tone for the rest of the game. They pounced on every opportunity with 11 interceptions, shot attempts, and favourable circle feeds. Stand-out performers included Ine-Mare Venter with 49 goal attempts, and solid defensive plays from Jamie Williamson, Zane Bodenstein, and Lungile Mthembu. However, the team faced some setbacks, with Janie van Wyk being temporarily replaced by Jamie Williamson due to concussion protocols. Alice Kenon also sustained an injury. Coach Rozanne Matthyse of the Jaguars said: 'A lot of our players are coachable, and that's important. They know what they want from this competition, and they are always focused on our process.' The Jaguars' mini-revival will face another stern test with a clash against the Flames. Baobabs coach Emily Mathosa reflected on her team's struggles, saying: 'We did not start well, and I think that's why the score went up. 'If we had maintained our own centre passes, the score would never be like this... I am actually happy that we were able to improve in the second and third quarters.' The Baobabs were able to quickly put the disappointment behind them with a narrow 48-47 win over the Aloes on Friday morning. Nokwanda Khumalo scored the winning goal for the Baobabs at the final buzzer in a dramatic end-to-end clash. The first round of Telkom Netball League matches will end on Sunday. Power Week 2 takes place from June 13-17.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Champs Crinums bounce back with commanding win over Flames in Telkom Netball League
Xandri Fourie Crinums goal attack Xandri Fourie shoots for goal against the Flames at Sun City Superbowl. Photo: Netball South Africa Image: Netball South Africa Defending champions the Free State Crinums bounced back quickly from their only loss so far of Power Week 1 of the Telkom Netball League (TNL), with a 68-45 win over the North West Flames on day six. The Golden Fireballs had handed the log leaders a shock 50-45 loss in their top-of-the-table clash. The Crinums were back to their imperious best with a commanding performance against the Flames at the Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg, North West. The team's dominance was evident throughout the game, with the Flames struggling to keep up. The Crinums' attack was relentless, with 80 attempts compared to the Flames' 53. The Crinums' defence was solid, forcing three held balls and eight interceptions. This strong defensive display was a key factor in their victory. Coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm said: 'I'm very proud of the girls, it was a big win for us, we needed it.' She also highlighted the importance of giving fringe players opportunities, allowing them to feel the pressure of playing against a big team. The Flames seemed to lose momentum after the first quarter, allowing the Crinums to take control of the game. Coach Elsunet du Plessis acknowledged that her team were inconsistent, but saw positive aspects of their performance. She said: 'I think we were too inconsistent... but still there were passages of play that were very good and we can build on that.' She emphasised the need for her team to refocus and come back stronger. The Gauteng Jaguars, who have won the tournament six times, are slowly finding form after a poor start. They outclassed the Baobabs 65-38, after seeing off the Zambezi Eagles 56-49. The team's early dominance of the Baobabs set the tone for the rest of the game. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ They pounced on every opportunity with 11 interceptions, shot attempts, and favourable circle feeds. Stand-out performers included Ine-Mare Venter with 49 goal attempts, and solid defensive plays from Jamie Williamson, Zane Bodenstein, and Lungile Mthembu. However, the team faced some setbacks, with Janie van Wyk being temporarily replaced by Jamie Williamson due to concussion protocols. Alice Kenon also sustained an injury. Coach Rozanne Matthyse of the Jaguars said: 'A lot of our players are coachable, and that's important. They know what they want from this competition, and they are always focused on our process.' The Jaguars' mini-revival will face another stern test with a clash against the Flames. Baobabs coach Emily Mathosa reflected on her team's struggles, saying: 'We did not start well, and I think that's why the score went up. 'If we had maintained our own centre passes, the score would never be like this... I am actually happy that we were able to improve in the second and third quarters.' The Baobabs were able to quickly put the disappointment behind them with a narrow 48-47 win over the Aloes on Friday morning. Nokwanda Khumalo scored the winning goal for the Baobabs at the final buzzer in a dramatic end-to-end clash. The first round of Telkom Netball League matches will end on Sunday. Power Week 2 takes place from June 13-17.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Crinums tame Jaguars in repeat of last year's Telkom Netball League final
Reratilwe Letsoalo of the Free State Crinums was in fine fettle during the opening weekend of the Telkom Netball League this past weekend. Photo: Backpageix Image: Backpageix Defending Telkom Netball League (TNL) champions the Free State Crinums outclassed traditional rivals the Gauteng Jaguars at the Sun City Superbowl in a repeat of last season's final. The comprehensive 59-37 victory was a third dominant win in the first round of the tournament in Rustenburg, North West, for the defending champs. None of their rivals have been able to live with their intensity and execution on court, and it was no different against the Jaguars. The Crinums put their foot on the pedal from the first centre pass and refused to let up. They were firmly in control, leading 46-25 by the end of the third quarter. They refused to rest on the lead, the 22-point margin was by no means flattering. As is usually the case, skipper Refiloe Nketsa, the Proteas star, was at the heart of all that was good about the Crinums' play at centre. In fact, they outplayed the Jaguars in all areas of the court. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Crinums goalkeeper Reratilwe Letsoala (centre) was named Player of the Match for her dominant defensive performance against the Jaguars. Image: Netball South Africa Goalkeeper Reratilwe Letsoalo was immense on the defensive end, refusing to give the opposition attackers an inch in the circle. She was named Player of the Match for her outstanding play that included crucial steals and intercepts. "I think we put our foot on the pedal from the first centre pass to the last one. And we told ourselves even if we get ahead, not to get comfortable, but we play until the last whistle," she said in a post-match interview. "I think that mindset of going until the last whistle is what carried us through the match." Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm said: "I'm so proud of my team. "We played consistently and stuck to our game plan. Being defending champions is a privilege, not a pressure. Every team wants to be the best against us, and that's exciting." The Free State Crinums were on the mark at both ends of the court 🔥 They played at a high level as they won 59-38 against the Gauteng Jaguars.#TNL2025 | #HereForHer — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 28, 2025 Jaguars coach Rozanne Matthyse admitted it was a difficult game for her team. They were strangely disjointed, struggling to string together passages of play and to execute. The champions' mid-court dominance also played a huge part in this. The result left the giants searching for their first win of TNL 2025 after they lost their opener against the high-riding Flames. "I'm confident in my team; we know how to bounce back," Mathysse said. "We've been in tough situations before, like in 2023 when we came back strong after losing crucial games. We still have work to do; we're not at our best, making silly mistakes and not playing solid netball." To their credit, the Jaguars did show that ability to bounce back in their next game, against the SA Under-21 team on Tuesday morning. Their earlier failings were on display as they fell behind early in the match. But they managed to click in the third quarter and eventually secured a 55-51 win over the Baby Proteas. 🛠️ The #SPARBabyProteas are gelling, building rhythm, and finding the right combinations as they sharpen their game for the Netball World Youth Cup! 🇿🇦🔥 A strong comeback from the Jaguars! 👏#TNLJaguarsSAU21 #TelkomNL #TNLisBack #TelkomStandTall #WeAreAllIn @TelkomZA — Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 29, 2025
IOL News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Home crowd fuels North West Flames' success in Telkom Netball League
Lethabo Komane of Tshukudu is challenged by Amukelani Kubayi of Lilies during their Telkom Netball League clash at Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg on Sunday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The home crowd support at the Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg has been credited with fanning the North West Flames in their strong start to the Telkom Netball League 2025. The raucous crowd also roared Tshukudu, a Division 2 side from the province, to a convincing win over the Limpopo Lilies in an intense match on the second day of competition. The Tshukudu supporters brought the house down with their energetic cheering and vibrant spirit, lifting the team. Their passionate backing clearly fuelled the players' confidence, helping Tshukudu maintain momentum and finish strongly. Flames coach Elsunet du Plessis highlighted the significant role the crowd had played in their shock 60-57 win over the Jaguars from Gauteng in a thrilling and fast-paced match. 'I think it is amazing to have the crowd behind you because we are used to playing without any support with us," she said. "It is a confidence booster to the players. It's just nice to know that there's someone there, there's a big crowd that really support us and I also just want to give a big shout out to the crowd and thank them for their support. "I was just telling them (the players) that the question now is how much you want it. If you want to let it slip, let it slip but we didn't come this far to let it slip so we really need to work together and really play as a team to put us through." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Jaguars coach Roxanne Matthyse commended her side's opening performance, highlighting the impact of her three debutants and their ability to stick to the game plan. 'It was a very difficult for us, we started slow and it was like playing catch up the whole time. But we would rather have this happening in the beginning of the leg and not towards the end. A lot of lessons for me as a coach and for my players. "Taking accountability, for one, it didn't work for us on attack. Every time you think find confidence and you build on that, there's a mistake. "For the Jaguars that's not how we play. You know we set a high standard, and we need to make sure we maintain that standard,' added Matthyse. It was a baptism of fire for last year's beaten finalists. And things were set to only get tougher with a repeat of last year's decider against Free State Crinums rounding off Monday's play. The Fireballs and Stings turned up the heat in their Division 1 clash! 🔥 The Fireballs take the win and stay undefeated in Division 1. 💥#TNLFireballsStings #TelkomNL #TNLisBack #TelkomStandTall @TelkomZA — Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) April 28, 2025
