AmaWheelaBoys take series lead against French
The South African senior men's wheelchair basketball team claimed their second Test victory over the French All Stars team within 24 hours, as they triumphed 62-58 in the Sasol All Star Series, played at the Mandeville Sports Club in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Richard Nortje of South Africa and Rodney Hawkins of Columbia during the SASOL Wheelchair Basketball match between South Africa and Columbia at Mandeville Sports Centre on July 28, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.Photo by Lee Warren / Gallo Images
The win has given the AmaWheelaBoys an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series, with the third international due to be played at Mandeville on Sunday.
The final match is scheduled to be played at the same venue on Friday, August 1.
Experienced Richard Nortje was again a thorn in the side of the French team and deservedly collected the All Star Series Player of the Match award.
For the second time in the series, the hosts left it late and had to claw their way back from a 46-44 deficit at the end of the third quarter.
“The win means a lot to the Sasol AmaWheelaBoys as we have now secured the series, which is a big plus after being beaten by the French in this tournament last year,” said national team captain Cecil Dumond.
“The French looked a lot sharper than they did on Friday … But when one considers that they have some players in their team that were part of the French unit that won silver at the 2010 world championships, our guys can be proud of our performances.”
Besides Nortje, other AmaWheelaBoys players who impressed were Mpho ‘Gift’ Mooketsi and Jaco van Niekerk.
– Sapa
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