The SPAR Proteas overpowered Zimbabwe 72-37 in their second match in the SPAR Diamond Challenge in the Rembrandt Hall at the Tuks Sports Centre on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Coach Norma Plummer made sweeping changes to the line-up, with captain Bongi Msomi (wing-attack) and goalkeeper Phumza Maweni the only two players who started in the opening match against Scotland on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Plummer said she wanted to give as many players as possible valuable match-time.<\/p>\n
South Africa dominated throughout the match. By the end of the first quarter they were 20-9 ahead and they continued to exert pressure as the match continued.\u00a0They led 38-17 at halftime.<\/p>\n
The SPAR Proteas played a fast game and the Zimbabwe Gems struggled with the pace, but they put up a good fight against a team ranked well ahead of them in the world rankings.<\/p>\n
SPAR Proteas assistant coach Dumisani Chauke said she was pleased with the way her team had stuck to the game plan throughout the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew Zimbabwe would come out guns blazing and that it would be a very physical game,\u201d said Chauke.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir netball is improving but we were able to counter anything they threw at us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the luxury of being able to play some of the youngsters and we were very pleased with the way they played. We decided to try Refiloe Nketsa at centre and she did so well she was named player of the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 15 players have had time on court now,\u201d said Chauke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to go hard against Zimbabwe,\u201d said vice-captain Maweni.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weren\u2019t so worried about the score, but every player on the team had their own goals and I think they achieved them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe assistant coach Wisdom Shinya said he was very happy with his team because they had followed their instructions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe managed to use almost all of the bench players and the new kids on the block did well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to work on our speed. South Africa were too fast for us and we need to get that right before the World Cup next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captain Felistas Kwanga said she was very proud of her team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was particularly proud of Thandazile Ndlovu, who replaced me as goal defence in the final quarter. She\u2019s only 19, but she\u2019s scared of nothing,\u201d said Kwanga.<\/p>\n
In the second game of the day, the President\u2019s XII beat Scotland 49-48 in a hotly contested match.<\/p>\n
Karen Atkinson, assistant coach of the Scottish Thistles, said it was a disappointing result, but the team had learned a lot from the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted to win this match, but we also wanted to try out different combinations. The players were put under a lot of pressure in a goal for goal match,\u201d said Atkinson.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are learning a lot about the African style of play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captain of the day Iona Christian said she was proud that the team had shown a lot of fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are desperately disappointed, but we fought right until the end,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a very young team and our inexperience showed today.\u00a0But it was a great learning curve \u2013 it\u2019s not often you get to play a goal for goal match,\u201d said Christian.<\/p>\n
Kamogelo Maseko of the President XII was named player of the match.<\/p>\n
Thursday is a rest day. On Friday, Scotland take on Zimbabwe and the SPAR Proteas play the President\u2019s XII. The final will be played on Saturday.<\/p>\n
All the matches in the SPAR Diamond Challenge will be televised live on Supersport.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the games will be available at the venue \u2013 R20 for adults and R10 for school going children.<\/p>\n
South Africa vs Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/p>\n Q1: <\/strong>SPAR Proteas 20 \u2013 9 Zimbabwe<\/p>\n Q2: <\/strong>SPAR Proteas 38 \u2013 17 Zimbabwe<\/p>\n Q3: <\/strong>SPAR Proteas 55 \u2013 28 Zimbabwe<\/p>\n Q4: <\/strong>SPAR Proteas 72 \u2013 37 Zimbabwe<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>President XII vs Scotland<\/strong><\/p>\n Q1: <\/strong>President XII 12 \u2013 11 Scotland<\/p>\n Q2:<\/strong> President XII 23 \u2013 23 Scotland<\/p>\n Q3:<\/strong> President XII 36 \u2013 33 Scotland<\/p>\n Q4:<\/strong> President XII 49 \u2013 48 Scotland<\/p>\n Image: Marcel Sigg<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"