Reigning World Champions, Australia held their ground and continued their dominance over the SPAR Proteas with a 64 \u2013 53 win over South Africa in Bendigo, Australia on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Header Image supplied: The SPAR Proteas team lineup ahead the South Africa vs Australia first international netball test match played in Bendigo, Australia on Saturday 4 October 2025. The Aussie Diamonds beat the SPAR Proteas 64-53 in the first of the three-test series.<\/em><\/p>\n When you compare the two nations, SPAR Proteas come into this match with at least ten test matches under their belt for 2025 while the Australian Diamonds were playing their first international of the year. The two have met 46 times and Australia are yet to taste defeat.<\/p>\n The SPAR Proteas took to court Saturday knowing that they need to put their best foot forward and do what they had never done before, which is to beat then current world champions.<\/p>\n Head Coach Jenny van Dyk has overtime maintained that to be the best you will need to play against the best \u2013 and this is what South Africa was aiming for today. While the Aussie Diamonds were the ones to get on the scoring board first, going three points clear in the opening few minutes of the opening quarter, the SPAR Proteas were very patient to be execute their game plan. It was not long before they levelled up.<\/p>\n The SPAR Proteas showed real character and showed up for every pass \u2013 they displayed grit and resilience; they kept giving as much as they got. At the end of the first quarter \u2013 the two were locked at 14 points each.<\/p>\n With both teams\u2019 level at the start of the second quarter, the Aussie Diamonds ramped out their attack and made sure to pull away from the SPAR Proteas while restricting them from scoring as many goals. A quick four goals at the start of the quarter within 3 minutes shook the South African\u2019s and that surge by Australia gave their home team the advantage throughout the rest of the match. As both teams went to half time, it was Australia who were leading 34 -26.<\/p>\n van Dyk made a few changes going into the third quarter with the introduction of Owethu Ngubane and Sanmarie Visser in place of Khanyisa Chawane and Shadine van der Merwe. South Africa seemed to have been more determined to play catch up \u2013 van der Merwe was brought back into the match halfway through the quarter. At the end of the quarter, SPAR Proteas had scored 15 goals in response to Diamonds 16. Overall score after 45 minutes was 50 \u2013 41 to Australia.<\/p>\n With Tarle Mathe\u2019s legs growing tired, Coach van Dyk brought in Refiloe Nketsa in the centre to strengthen the midcourt. Australia kept applying the pressure on the SPAR Proteas, they made sure to keep peeling away from South Africa and eventually won the opening match 64 \u2013 53.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the game, SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Wyk said\u00a0\u201cTo be honest, it wasn\u2019t a bad game for us as South Africa, taking on the best in the world is never an easy task but we did it. Our first quarter was good and everything that went wrong for us was in the second quarter. We lost the third quarter by a single point which demonstrated good game performance from our end. We know that we can be competitive as a team, there is a lot of improvement from our end. Our aim with the next match is to win, we do not just compete.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Quarter Score Breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SPAR Proteas Starting XII<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n GS \u2013 Elmere van der Berg; GA \u2013 Kamogelo Maseko; WA \u2013 Khanyisa Chawane ( C ); C- Tarle Mathe; WD \u2013 Shadine van der Merwe; GD \u2013 Jamie van Wyk; GK Nicola Smith<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Shooting Stats:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Elmere van der Berg 37\/42 (88%)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Kamogelo Maseko 11\/59 (73%)<\/em><\/p>\n Owethu Nguabane 5\/7(71.4%)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n