Western Province got off to the best possible start at the Spar National Netball Championships in Port Elizabeth on Monday, beating defending champions Central Gauteng by 45 goals to 38 in their opening match.
Central Gauteng certainly did not appear to be champion material in the first quarter, with a number of fumbles and misdirected passes, while their rivals played more fluently and with more purpose to take a 13-5 lead. Gauteng Central fought back well in the second quarter, scoring 14 goals to the eight scored by Western Province, but the players from the Cape kept their noses in front throughout.
Province captain Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan was delighted by the outcome. ”It’s always important to play positively right from the start, and that was definitely the result we wanted,” she said.
”We weren’t aware of the actual scores during the match, but we were determined to make every ball count for Western Province. We didn’t expect to win so comprehensively — netball is such a dynamic game that you can be six goals ahead and still lose in the end, so we are very pleased.”
Gauteng Central captain Nthabiseng Moabi said the outcome of the first match was disappointing, but there was still plenty of time left in the tournament. ”It’s not a question of ‘we can still come back’, but ‘we will come back’,” she said.
Moabi, who returned from national duty in Fiji and New Zealand four days ago, said there were a number of new young players in the team. ”Our whole backline is under 19, and there are only a few really experienced players in the squad. But they have been practising together since May, and I know we will do better in the coming days.”
The match between Gauteng North, led by Desmarie Kotze, and Free State, led by Charlene Hertzog, turned out to be the thriller of the day, with the two teams neck-and-neck. Gauteng North led by seven goals to five at the end of the first quarter, but after that, neither team were able to establish their dominance. They were level on 15-all at half-time and 21-all after the third quarter, and the match ended in a 29-all draw.
Zululand were no match for Boland, going down 15-77, and North West South, strengthened by the addition of national goal shooter Sindy Gumede, beat Gauteng East 57-37.
Last year’s silver medallists, Eastern Province, make their first appearance on Tuesday, when they take on Gauteng North. — Sapa