Gauteng Jaguars secure semi-final spot with splendid derby win over Gauteng Golden Fireballs
JOBURG – Gauteng Jaguars's derby win over Gauteng Golden Fireballs sends them straight to the semi-finals of the 2017 Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League.
The Gauteng North Jaguars became the first team to secure themselves a berth in the semi-finals of the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League with a splendid win over the Gauteng Golden Fireballs.
The Jaguars won the Gauteng derby at the Mangaung Indoor Complex in Bloemfontein by 56–49 to book their fourth consecutive semi-final spot in the league.
The top two teams on the log guarantee themselves an automatic place in the semi’s, whiles the Fireballs will have to play a quarter-final next week, either against the Eastern Cape Aloes or Limpopo Baobabs.
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The derby was a brutal encounter and players didn’t leave anything out on court. The Jaguars led throughout, although never by more than four goals and the Fireballs even managed to take the lead for a brief spell deep into the third quarter. The quarter scores were 16–13, 29–28 and 42–40 in favour of the Jaguars.
But the winning team seemed to switch to another gear in the fourth quarter and converted most of their opportunities. Jaguars’ Ine-Marí Venter, goal shooter and player of the match, stepped up immensely after a slow start in the match.
The timing of her jumps for the ball was mostly spot on. Protea Izette Lubbe, initially playing wing attack and later centre, also had a very good game for the Jaguars after having a quiet campaign up to now.
She combined very well with Venter where the Fireballs drivers, centre Nadia Uys Pienaar, wing attack Ané Botha, and goal attack, Lindie Lombard, did a great job in getting the ball to their tall goal shooter, Deancke Rohde who converted most of her chances.
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Elsjé Jordaan, coach of the Fireballs, bravely took off Botha and brought on Talja Venter as goal attack, moving Lombard to wing attack.
The referees had their hands full and Jaguars defender Shadine van der Merwe and her teammate, midcourt player Tshina Mdau, received an official warning for persistent contact before halftime.
