Too close to call in netball cup semis

In division one, the Gauteng Jaguars finished on top of the log but in the semi-finals at the Pretoria University Sports Centre they come up against the North West Flames — one of only two teams to beat them in the league stages.

“When we started, our goal was just to qualify for the semi-finals,” said Jaguars coach Jenny van Dyk.

“We are one of the younger teams, and we had no expectation of finishing on top of the log. We had a fantastic first round, when we didn’t lose a single match, but we were brought back to earth in the second, when we lost to the North West Flames and the Golden Fireballs.

“I have made my plans for the semi-final against the Flames. Dorette (Badenhorst, the Flames coach) and I play the same style of netball, and we have locked horns several times. She comes with a strategy, I counter her, and so on. I think if we stick to our plans, we will win, and I believe we can win the cup.”

The other semi-final is between the second-placed Free State Crinums and third placed Golden Fireballs. The Crinums beat the Fireballs in their first encounter, but their second match ended in a thrilling 32-all draw.

While the Crinums were consistent throughout the competition, they lost their last two league matches, going down to the Jaguars and more surprisingly, the bottom of the log Eastern Aloes, who squeaked home by 33 goals to 32.

The Fireballs, on the other hand, ended their league on a high, when they beat the Jaguars 47-42.

The Aloes, who won only one match, will not be in action until Sunday, when they take on the winner of the second division in a promotion-relegation match.

In the division two, there does not appear to be a team that can challenge the Southern Stings, who breezed through the league stages, winning every match without raising a sweat and are surely head for the promotion-relegation match against the Aloes.

The Stings will play the Limpopo Baobabs in the semi-finals, with the Kingdom Stars, who finished second on the second division log, taking on the Northern Cape Diamonds in a semi-final which could be more closely contested.

– Sapa