15-07-2025
Jaguars fight back to beat Flames and boost Telkom Netball League semi-final hopes
Flames wing attack Tlotlang Mokomela (left) tries to pick out a player while the Jaguars players shut down the passing lanes in Tuesday's crunch TNL Power Week 3 match at the Durban ICC. Picture: NSA
Image: Netball South Africa
LAST year's losing finalists, the Gauteng Jaguars, secured a crucial 63-51 victory over the North West Flames in Power Week 3 of the Telkom Netball League at the Durban ICC on Tuesday afternoon, as the battle for the semi-final places heated up.
The record six-times winners, who are coached by Rozanne Mathysse, came into the final week of SA's premier netball competition in fourth place, with the Flames one position above them.
The win cemented their push for a play-off place but dented the chances of Elsunet du Plessis' charges, who face a battle for the final play-off spot with the Southern Stings.
The Flames had the hotter start in a cagey first quarter where star Jaguars goal attack Kamogelo Maseko struggled to get going. Her usually telepathic link with goal shooter Ine-Mari Venter just wasn't there as the Flames closed out the quarter with a 14-12 lead.
The Jaguars were a different team at the beginning of the second stanza as they finally found their rhythm. They scored seven unanswered points as they sped up play noticeably, while goalkeeper Bodenstein was increasingly influential on the defensive end.
Jaguars wing defence Caroline Paul is ready to launch another attack against the Flames in Monday's match at the Durban ICC that the Jaguars won 63-51.
Image: Netball South Africa
Ominously for the Flames, Maseko found her range, and the partnership with Venter burst to life. They also shared the goalscoring burden.
Bodenstein was enjoying the better of her battle against Flames goal shooter Zandre Smit, who had a dominant first half in the attacking circle.
The Flames, however, refused to go away and trailed the Jaguars 30-27 at halftime.
There was another scoring burst by the Jaguars that resulted in a six-point lead (39-33).
Defensively, it was the Jamie van Wyk show. The Jaguars skipper seemed to have telescopic arms and springs in her heels, popping up everywhere at wing defence to intercept the Flames' passes and disrupt their general play.
She was named Player of the Match.
Even after Jaguars player Caroline Paul was sin-binned in the final quarter, they refused to let go of their grip on the match. Their accuracy in front of goal also proved a major difference.
Coach Mathysse praised her players' character in recovering from a sluggish start to take the win, but pointed out areas for improvement.
🔥 On fire until the final whistle!
Jaguars claw their way to a 12-goal win after a powerful second-half display. 😬
Q1 🔥14-12🐾
Q2 🔥27-30🐾
Q3 🔥39-48🐾
Q4 🔥51-63🐾#TNLFlamesJaguars #TelkomNL #TNL2025 #TelkomStandTall @TelkomZA — Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) July 15, 2025
'I think that first quarter we have to start a lot better and we have to play for 15 minutes. I felt we were brilliant in two five-minute spells but we let it go, to then pick up again. So that's something I would want to work on,' she said in her post-match interview.
Next up for the Jaguars is a repeat of last year's final against defending champions the Crinums, who are currently in second place. The unbeaten Fireballs top the log.
Flames coach Du Plessis urged her players to refocus after the blow to their semi-final chances.
'I think we really played a good first half, and everything kind of worked for us although I felt like in the midcourt we were a little flat but defensively we really did well,' she said.
'But you need to play consistently for 60 minutes to win games, and to also make sure you score. In these types of game you can't miss goals.'
She admitted that they were in for a tough battle against the Stings, who drew level with the Flames on 11 points after a 76-44 win over the Baobabs.
