Crunch time for Netball league as semis approach
JOBURG - The Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League reaches the crunch penultimate round this weekend.
The Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League is nearing its climax this weekend as the top four teams go head to head in the penultimate round for a spot in the final.
The league kicked off with 10 teams on 21 April and now it’s down to four for the final round after which the winner will be crowned as South Africa’s top provincial netball side.
The Gauteng North Jaguars, North West Flames, Gauteng Golden Fireballs and the Western Cape’s Southern Stings will battle it out at the Bloemfontein’s Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre in the semi-finals for a spot in the final. The winner’s prize is a trip to play in New Zealand’s Club Championship in July.
Read: Flames cruise to semis as they impress in win over Stings in the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League
The first semi-final match takes place on Saturday at 4pm and will see the mighty Jaguars take on the Stings. This fixture marks a third consecutive semi-final between the two teams, with the Jaguars being victors in all three.
The Jaguars, as in 2014 and 2015, ended first on the log with eight wins from nine matches, finishing with the same number of points as the Flames, but having a better goal difference.
The key players for coach Jenny van Dyk’s Jaguars are goal shooter Ine-Marí Venter (shooting at 80 per cent), and centre and wing defence, Marlize de Bruin.
There is also captain fantastic and goal defence Shadine van der Merwe, and goalkeeper Izette Griesel who has demonstrated why she plays for the Proteas. Chrisna van Zyl and Van der Merwe have also played for the Proteas before.
The Stings have four Proteas, Juline Rossouw, Phumza Maweni, Rochelle Loubser and Vanes-Mari du Toit.
Stings head coach, Annelie Lucas, has a very versatile team and plenty of options at her disposal. Goal shooter Jaumbuaije Zauana has been a revelation with an average of 84 per cent at goal attempts.
Read: Highlights of super netball matches
The second semi-final will see the Flames square off with the Fireballs on Sunday at 6pm. This will be the first time these two teams square off in a playoff match. The Flames have been in three semi-finals previously, losing all three.
Dorette Badenhorst, coach of the Flames, will be desperate to bring an end to this.
The Fireballs last qualified for the final four in 2014 when they narrowly came second to the Crinums.
They undoubtedly have the most experienced players in the competition and their coach, Elsjé Jordaan, will be hoping this helps to bring the trophy home.
Which two teams do you think will make to the finals and why? Tweet @AlexNewsZA to share your views
