Champs Crinums bounce back with commanding win over Flames in Telkom Netball League
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.
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