The North West Flames started their Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League campaign on losing note after going down 55-37 to the Western Cape Southern Stings tonight at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.
This defeat was not the start that new coach, Elsje Jordaan, wanted in her first match as her side struggled against an energetic and determined Stings side.
A lack of firepower up front was one of the main reasons that the Flames burned out tonight as they could only achieve a 71 per cent goal shooting percentage as opposed to the Stings 92 per cent success rate.
It was indeed a scrappy start as the Flames struggled to convert their early chances. The Flames eventually got on the board with goal shooter Claudia van den Berg putting the ball in the net.
The former Southern Stings player, Vanes-Mari Proudfoot-Du Toit was also on the top of her game on defence for her new team. Together with Monique Reyneke, these two put on a commanding display on defence in the first quarter.
The Southern Stings though, took their chances and had an 11-10 lead after the first 15 minutes.
The Stings kept their form up in the second quarter as they quickly moved into a 14-10 lead. The Stings’ Abeline Olivier was one of the stars for the Western Cape ladies in the second quarter as she constantly fed brilliant balls for player of the match Hélene Steyn (GA) and Jaumbuaije Zauana (GS) to capatalise on as their accurate shooting took the Stings to a 27-23 lead at half-time.
This was extended in the third quarter as the Western Cape side made the most of a lacklustre display from the Flames to take a huge 12 goal advantage with 15 minutes of play left.
“We struggled on our attack tonight, but we need to be realistic having young players in attacking positions. Still, we do not want to make excuses after a disappointing display,” emphasised North West Flames coach, Elsje Jordaan.
“I think we tired them out and our game plan was executed perfectly, stated Annelie Lucas, head coach of the Southern Stings.
The Flames will now need to up their game before tomorrow’s encounter with the Limpopo Boababs as they still search for their first two points of the tournament.
