Two-time defending champions Johannesburg were untroubled on the opening day of the SPAR National Netball Championships, hosted by the City of Johannesburg, on Monday.<\/p>\n
The home side comfortably won both of their two opening matches. Their first encounter was against eThekwini, a side new to the A section after competing in the B division last year. The KZN team battled to keep up with the defending champions who, despite some inaccurate shooting, managed to claim a 69-35 victory.<\/p>\n
It was then on to a Jukskei Derby against Tshwane. Some may have expected a closer match between the two, but the Johannesburg side raced to a 21-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Tshwane did improve during the course of the match and even won the final quarter by one goal, but that first-quarter deficit was just too large to make up, with Johannesburg ultimately winning 63-42.<\/p>\n
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsj\u00e9 Jordaan said afterwards she was happier with her side\u2019s second match of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pretty pleased. I think we were better in the second game on rounding off \u2013 working so hard, punishing them and then getting the reward\u2026 The calmer the shooters are when they receive the ball, the more accurate they become.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is challenging \u2013 it is quite hot out there and it\u2019s physical so it\u2019s about running legs and running players. As soon as you think a player is settling, you realise you need to make a change. Whoever is going to win this will be the team that manage their team the best,\u201d said Jordaan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of consistency, we\u2019re still not where we want to be, but I think overall a good first day for us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Tshwane coach Erin Burger explained that several players were unavailable for the side, but she believes the team will improve as the tournament progresses.<\/p>\n
They claimed a 48-42 victory over the South African under-21 side, who are also competing in the A section, before their loss to Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new team and I think they\u2019ve got a lot to give. It\u2019s just to get the combinations to settle and to settle in under pressure. I think as the tournament goes, we\u2019ll get stronger as a team as they get to know each other under pressure on court,\u201d said the coach.<\/p>\n
Burger agreed with Jordaan\u2019s sentiments regarding the heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is still the start, it\u2019s a long week. The heat is going to play a big role. I think the changes you make as a coach, how the bench comes on court, is going to play such a big role later,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, apart from Johannesburg, the other teams to retain a clean sheet with two victories on the opening day were Cape Town, who beat Ekurhuleni 57-45 and Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51-47 and Cape Winelands, who were thrilled with their 51-46 victory over last year\u2019s runner-up Mangaung after beating Nelson Mandela Bay 56-24 in their opener.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very proud of the girls,\u201d said Cape Winelands coach Sasha-Lee Petersen after their victory over Mangaung.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of conversion rates \u2013 everything that we intercepted or the defensive things that we got off them, we converted. And I think towards the end of the game in quarter three and quarter four, we really stayed strong as a team where they had a few misunderstandings between their players.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut honestly it was close at the end of the day, it could have gone either way\u2026 It\u2019s about those inches and the little things you do on court that make the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Under-21 tournament, defending champions Tshwane also got their title defence off to a promising start with two victories, beating Cape Town 46-36 and Mangaung 66-38.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the games will be available online at shop@netball-sa.org.za as well as at the venue for R30. Safe and secure parking will be available at Ellis Park Swimming Pool for R10 per car.<\/p>\n
Selected matches will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Variety 4\/Channel 209 (2-7 December).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A Section Results:<\/p>\n
Cape Town 57 \u2013 45 Ekurhuleni<\/p>\n
Cape Winelands 56 \u2013 24 Nelson Mandela Bay<\/p>\n
Johannesburg 69 \u2013 35 eThekwini<\/p>\n
Tshwane 48 \u2013 42 SA U21<\/p>\n
Mangaung 63 -27 Ekurhuleni<\/p>\n
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51 \u2013 30 Nelson Mandela Bay<\/p>\n
eThekwini 44 \u2013 53 SA U21<\/p>\n
Johannesburg 63 \u2013 42 Tshwane<\/p>\n
Mangaung 46 \u2013 51 Cape Winelands<\/p>\n
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 47 \u2013 51 Cape Town<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"