AFTER a rocky start to the 2022 Netball Quad Series in London, the SPAR Proteas will go head-to-head with the New Zealand Sliver Ferns at 19:15 on Tuesday, January 18.
While the SPAR Proteas lost both their opening games at the weekend, the head coach, Dorette Badenhorst, said the team learnt valuable lessons that will prepare them for Tuesday’s game.
The SPAR Proteas, which ranked fifth in the latest World Netball rankings, took on the Quad Series favorites, Australian Diamonds, on Sunday. The South African team lost with a score of 60 – 40. The team also lost to England on Saturday (71 – 47.
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In yesterday’s game, the short passing game of the SPAR Proteas worked well in their favour as they kept the lead for 13 minutes until they lost the lead, ending the quarter at 14 – 12.
In the second quarter, coach Badenhorst brought on Tshina Mdau on wing defence and moved Monique Reyneke to goal defence.
The SPAR Proteas changed their game plan a bit and played long passes, which was not really working for them. They quickly went back to their original short passes game.
Mdau was clinical in the middle of the court and made a few crucial intercepts. The second quarter went to Australia, who won it 27 -23.
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The Australian Diamonds cemented their lead in the third quarter with a score of 45 – 32.
“On Sunday, we played better than we did against England on the opening day. The players played for each other and trusted each other better than they did (on Saturday). We had a game plan and the team carried it out. The players that were called up to play really stepped up and I am happy with our performance. It has been particularly important for us to play against some of the best in the world so that we get ready for Commonwealth Games mid-year,” said Badenhorst.
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