Defending champions Tshwane will meet Mangaung Metro in the final of the SPAR national netball championships in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning.
The battle for places in the final came down to a thrilling three-horse race, with Dr Kenneth Kaunda (North West) the unlucky losers.
The three teams finished the round-robin section on 16 points each and the finalists were decided on goal averages. Dr Kenneth Kaunda beat Cape Town 83-39 in their final match but lost out to Tshwane by 0.07 of a point on goal average.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda will meet Cape Winelands in the playoff for third place early on Saturday.
“We conceded probably three too many goals,” coach Elsje Jordaan lamented.
“It’s tough that there are no semifinals. Now we have to play a team that finished four points behind us on the log for third place. But that’s the format and that’s the way it is.”
Initially, the A section was to have been divided into two pools, with semifinals and a final. However, after the withdrawal of two teams, it was decided that the matches should be played on a round-robin basis, with each team playing the others. The congested schedule meant teams often had to play three matches a day.
Despite her disappointment, Jordaan said she fully supported the tournament being played on a district rather than provincial basis.
Mangaung played two matches on Friday, racking up 106 goals to 20 against Bojanala (Rustenburg) and beating Nelson Mandela Bay 63-34.
“We knew it was now or never and that we had to chase goals,” Mangaung coach Burta de Kock said.
“I am very proud of the team – you need a lot of mental toughness when you play 10 matches in a week.”
Mangaung beat Tshwane in their round-robin match, but De Kock said she expected a very tough match. “They will be making their plans and plotting how to beat us,” she said.
“I will tell the players to be brave and to keep ball in hand.”
In other matches played on Friday, Tshwane squeaked home against Cape Winelands by 28 goals to 27.
Cape Town beat Nkangala (Middelburg) 79-12, and Cape Winelands beat Ehlanzeni (Nelspruit) 72-18.
With more rain forecast for Saturday, the final matches will be played at an indoor venue.
Netball champs wrap up in PE
Tshwane and Mangaung Metro will battle it out for nationals honours
Defending champions Tshwane will meet Mangaung Metro in the final of the SPAR national netball championships in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning.
The battle for places in the final came down to a thrilling three-horse race, with Dr Kenneth Kaunda (North West) the unlucky losers.
The three teams finished the round-robin section on 16 points each and the finalists were decided on goal averages. Dr Kenneth Kaunda beat Cape Town 83-39 in their final match but lost out to Tshwane by 0.07 of a point on goal average.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda will meet Cape Winelands in the playoff for third place early on Saturday.
“We conceded probably three too many goals,” coach Elsje Jordaan lamented.
“It’s tough that there are no semifinals. Now we have to play a team that finished four points behind us on the log for third place. But that’s the format and that’s the way it is.”
Initially, the A section was to have been divided into two pools, with semifinals and a final. However, after the withdrawal of two teams, it was decided that the matches should be played on a round-robin basis, with each team playing the others. The congested schedule meant teams often had to play three matches a day.
Despite her disappointment, Jordaan said she fully supported the tournament being played on a district rather than provincial basis.
Mangaung played two matches on Friday, racking up 106 goals to 20 against Bojanala (Rustenburg) and beating Nelson Mandela Bay 63-34.
“We knew it was now or never and that we had to chase goals,” Mangaung coach Burta de Kock said.
“I am very proud of the team – you need a lot of mental toughness when you play 10 matches in a week.”
Mangaung beat Tshwane in their round-robin match, but De Kock said she expected a very tough match. “They will be making their plans and plotting how to beat us,” she said.
“I will tell the players to be brave and to keep ball in hand.”
In other matches played on Friday, Tshwane squeaked home against Cape Winelands by 28 goals to 27.
Cape Town beat Nkangala (Middelburg) 79-12, and Cape Winelands beat Ehlanzeni (Nelspruit) 72-18.
With more rain forecast for Saturday, the final matches will be played at an indoor venue.
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