The SPAR Proteas carry an unassailable 2-0 lead into Sunday’s final leg of the three-match series against Malawi after beating their regional rivals 69-38 at the Ellis Park Arena.
Coach Jenny van Dyk made several changes to the lineup that started the first netball Test last Thursday, with Khanyisa Chawane starting at wing attack, Tarle Mathe at centre, Jeanté Strydom at wing defence and the player who made her Proteas debut in the opening match, Ané Retief, starting at goalkeeper.
Having gone down by 37 goals on Thursday, the Malawi Queens looked determined to turn things around in the opening quarter. The visitors came close to winning the first quarter but the home side managed to level matters at 13-13.
After what eventual MVP Kamogelo Maseko referred to as a "spirited pep talk” at the break the Proteas settled into their game in the second quarter, scoring seven unanswered to eventually reach half-time leading 29-22.
The South African coaches substituted players at regular intervals throughout the second half as they tested several different combinations, with all but Owethu Ngubane getting court time on the day.
The home side dominated the half, their superior fitness and concentration proving key to extending their lead to 47-28 by the end of the third quarter and adding another 22 goals in the final quarter to finish the game 69-38 ahead.
Named Most Valuable Player, Maseko said the team knew to simply stick to their goals.
“There is comfort in knowing that you have a game plan that you practise, it’s second nature so we were honestly not too fazed,” she said of the first quarter score. “We said the second half was where we wanted to hit them hard because we believe it’s where our fitness is going to carry us.”
As for the pep talk, Maseko quipped: “Our coaches have strong personalities, both of them, so when they say something it’s loud and clear. It’s loud enough for everyone to understand. But basically, in conclusion, they said: ‘This is ours and we are taking it!’.”
Meanwhile, earlier in the curtain-raiser match South Africa’s men’s side came from a goal down after the first quarter to beat Zimbabwe’s men 46-41 and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Comments