Flames spark with unbeaten record

The North West Flames retained their unbeaten record with a resounding 79–28 win over the Limpopo Baobabs in the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena.

The Flames have been the most exciting team in the tournament and appear to be heading for the final. They exerted their dominance from the start and the Baobabs battled throughout the game.

The defence of he Flames did a good job in keeping the ball from the Baobabs’ tall and accurate goal shooter, Rahab Ngobeni; and Flames goalkeeper Zandre Kruger was deservedly named the player of the match.

“It was quite a challenge to play against another tall player,” said Kruger.

“We all enjoyed the match and it was a chance to work on our game plans.”

Dorette Badenhorst, the coach of the Flames, said the match against one of the weaker teams in the tournament had given her the opportunity to try out various new combinations and to expose some of her younger players. “A few players are still struggling to get into game form, but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the new combinations that I tried,” she said.

In the final match of the day, Gauteng’s Golden Fireballs achieved a comprehensive 64–32 victory over the Mpumalanga Sunbirds. The Sunbirds held their own for the first quarter, and were just two goals behind, but after that, the Fireballs took control.

At half-time, they were 31–16 ahead. When goalkeeper of the Fireballs, Simphiwe Sahebe was sent off just before the end of the third quarter, the Sunbirds were unable to capitalise and failed to score any goals while they had only one defender to pass in the circle. However, the Sunbirds never gave up and fought hard to the end.

“It was a very physical but enjoyable game,” said player of the match Cleopatra Kgoputso, the Fireballs’ wing attack.

“The Sunbirds never stopped trying.”

Elsje Jordaan, the coach of Fireballs, said she had hoped for a bigger winning margin to help with goal averages, but she was generally pleased with her team’s performance. “I think they were a bit complacent at the start, and we need to limit our unforced errors,” she said.

“But after that, they pulled themselves together.”

Jenne-Lee Delport, the coach of the Sunbirds, said she thought her team had started brilliantly. “I love it when a coach starts with a second-string line-up and has to make changes,” she said.

“We have learnt a lot from this tournament. Our goal shooting averages are still not good enough but we are making progress. Next week we have two very tough matches, against the Crinums and the Stings, and after that, we will be fighting to finish in seventh place overall.”

Results from the Ellis Park Indoor Arena, Johannesburg:

6 May

Southern Stings 60, Eastern Cape Aloes 38

Golden Fireballs 52, Gauteng Jaguars 58

7 May

North West Flames 79, Limpopo Baobabs 28

Eastern Cape Aloes 42, Free State Crinums 52

Golden Fireballs 64, MP Sunbirds 32.