Get ahead early on and stay ahead should be South Africa’s main strategy in the second Test in Spar’s Challenge series against England on Wednesday in Manchester.
The South African senior and under-21 teams on Monday night both lost to England by trying to erase a deficit.
The seniors lost 44-56 and the under-21s 40-47 against their English counterparts.
The home teams retained their lead throughout the games and were never in danger of losing.
The South African senior team came close to the home side with a deficit of only four goals after the first half (23-26). Two changes to the South African team at half-time, however, didn’t have the desired effect and England added 16 goals to their score.
The South Africans didn’t apply enough pressure throughout the court and lost too many balls in their own goal circle.
England drove with force towards their goal circle and once there, their shooters didn’t miss many scoring opportunities.
The visitors paid the price for not choosing specialists on centre, wing attack and wing defence.
Martha Mosoahle, the South African captain, is the regular centre, but her game has lost its edge. She was replaced at half-time by Nthabiseng Moabi.
Moabi played wing attack at first, but was replaced by Lizanne Helmand, who is not the solution in this position. She doesn’t have enough speed.
It is also unacceptable that a player who usually plays centre, Charlene du Toit, should play wing defence while a very capable defender sits in the pavilion.
Mancho Machoga (goal attack) tried very hard. She gave Sindisiwe Gumede (goal shooter) excellent support while the English defenders tried everything to keep Gumede out of play.
Machoga’s goal average was 84% and Gumede’s 93%.
The South African under-21s fought back hard towards the end but couldn’t eliminate the deficit.
The Proteas started the second quarter with a deficit of four goals (9-13) and from there fought with their backs to the wall.
The home team added 14 goals while the visitors managed only 11.
The third quarter was almost even with 11 goals to the South Africans and 10 to the English.
The second Test will be played in Manchester on Wednesday and the third next Monday in Birmingham. — Sapa