SA second best at 2017 Junior Indoor Netball World Cup in Fourways
FOURWAYS – Australian teams dominated at this year's Junior Indoor Netball World Cup.
South Africa made it into four out of five finals at the 2017 Junior Indoor Netball World Cup played at the Fourways Action Sports Arena on 15 July.
Unfortunately, Australia was too good for the South Africans with the hosts going down in the U14, U15, and U16 finals. New Zealand’s only game in the finals saw them beat Australia by seven points in the U17 mixed final.
Benjamin Ryan of the Australia U17 mixed team takes a shot at goal.
Sam van der Merwe, the coach of the U14 South African team, knew the competition would be tough when her girls came up against the Australians.
“We played them twice [before the final] and the first game they beat us by 20 points and the second time they beat us by 30,” van der Merwe told the Fourways Review.
“We played hard, and we’re still walking away with the silver medal, so I’m quite happy.”
Andrew Wilson of New Zealand and Benjamin Ryan of Australia watch to see if the ball will find the net during the U17 mixed final.
A local spectator, Rupert Lancaster said, “I’ve really been enjoying watching the games. Competition on the courts has been fierce, but I noticed that once the [U15 Australia vs South Africa] game I was watching finished, the players from opposing teams hugged and congratulated one another warmly. It’s nice to see that good sportsmanship is being practised, even during such a serious competition.”
The results for all the finals are as follows:
- U14: Australia beat South Africa 66–36
- U15 Australia beat South Africa 67–40
- U16: Australia beat South Africa 55–40
- U17: South Africa beat Australia 53 – 49
- U17 (Mixed game): New Zealand beat Australia 39–32.
South Africa U15 1st team (green) play against the SA U15 invitational team at the Junior Indoor Netball World Cup.
