Gauteng Central notched up two victories in quick succession to give notice of their intentions at the SPAR National Championships at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg, on Tuesday, 6 August, 2013.
Last year’s losing finalists beat neighbours Ekurhuleni 44-25 in their first match, and two hours later beat Western Province 40-33. Gauteng Central dominated Ekurhuleni throughout the match, outscoring them in every quarter, but in their second match, Western Province came back strongly in the final quarter, scoring 11 goals to Gauteng Central’s three.
Gauteng Central captain, and SPAR Protea, Simnikiwe Mdaka said they were very happy with their results so far, but she felt they needed to improve their performance if they were to top their pool at the end of the round robin stage of the tournament.
“It wasn’t too bad playing two games in such quick succession,” she said. “We played hard in the first game, but in the second, we were more measured and controlled. Because we were a bit tired, we slowed things down, and that was to our advantage.
“We need to be more consistent. We have had some brilliant quarters, but in some quarters, we really haven’t played well. The team that will win the championships will be the team that plays four solid quarters,” she said.
Mdaka said she expected competition to get tougher as they went along. “Our last round robin match is against Dr Kenneth Kaunda (formerly North West South) and we expect that to be very hard.
“They don’t have many stars, but they are a very strong and determined young team, who work very solidly, so we’ll have to be at our best to beat them on Thursday,” she said.
Defending champions Gauteng North continued their march to the semi-finals, with convincing victories over Mangaung Metro (49-30) and Buffalo City (75-16).
Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who beat Umgungundlovu 56-40, are also still unbeaten, as are Nelson Mandela Bay, who beat Royal Bafokeng 60-29. Frances Baard (formerly Griqualand West) beat Western Province 47-43 in a hard-fought match, to record their first victory in the last match of the day.
Buffalo City, Ekurhuleni, Boland, Royal Bafokeng and Umgungundlovu have yet to win a match, while Mangaung have lost one and won one. Western Province have lost three matches and won one.
Results: Day 2 Spar National Netball Championships at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng, in the North West, on Tuesday, 6 August, 2013: A Section: Gauteng North 49-30 Mangaung Gauteng Central 44-25 Ekurhuleni Nelson Mandela Bay 60-29 Royal Bafokeng Gauteng North 75-16 Buffalo City Dr Kenneth Kaunda 56-40 Umgungundlovu Gauteng Central 40-33 Western Province Buffalo City 54-28 Boland Frances Baard 47-43 Western Province B Section: Vhembe 59-28 Amathole Western Province 47-39 Bojanala Boland 36-24 Gauteng North Nelson Mandela Bay 70-43 Cacadu West Coast 40-29 Capricorn Gert Sibande 40-39 Gauteng West SWD 45-39 Central Boland Waterberg 38-35 Gauteng Vaal Chris Hani 48-28 Umzinyathi Nelson Mandela Bay 58-29 West Coast Gert Sibanda 29-24 Vhembe Zululand 44-42 Western Province Gauteng West 51-20 Amathole Capricorn 49-37 Cacadu Boland 49-32 SWD C Section: Ilembe 49-41 SANDF Alfred Nzo 51-39 Sisonke Fezile Dabi 56-42 NM Molema Siyanda 31-27 Royal Bafokeng B Western Province 51-47 Uthungulu Ehlanzeni 50-23 Uthungela Waterberg 38-35 Gauteng Vaal Chris Hani 48-28 Umzinyathi SANDF 48-41 Siyanda Ilembe 58-44 Fezile Dabi Nkangala 60-23 Alfred Nzo Waterberg 56-19 Uthungela Sisonke 60-22 Sekhukhune Ethekwini 52-35 Ehlanzeni Gauteng Vaal 43-23 Chris Hani Results: Day 1 Spar National Netball Championships at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng, in the North West, on Monday 5 August, 2013: A Section: Mangaung Metro 54-28 Buffalo City Western Province 54-38 Ekurhuleni Nelson Mandela Bay 50-40 Boland Dr Kenneth Kaunda 71-26 Frances Baard Gauteng North 82-18 Royal Bafokeng Gauteng Central 47-29 Umgungundlovu B Section: Gauteng West 60-22 Capricorn Gert Sibande 38-33 West Coast SWD 46-43 Bojanala Gauteng North 55-35 Central Boland Nelson Mandela Bay 57-15 Amathole Vhembe 55-39 Cacadu Western Province 53-31 Central Boland Boland 70-25 Zululand C Section: SANDF 57-47 Fezile Dabi Waterberg 62-20 Chris Hani Nkangala 46-30 Sisonke Ehlanzeni 62-16 Umzinyathi Western Province 69-21 Sekhukhune Ilembe 60-17 Royal Bafokeng B Ethekwini 35-25 Gauteng Vaal Fezile Dabi 43-31 Siyanda 31 Chris Hani 30-29 Uthungela Uthungulu 54-31 Alfred Nzo
(With editing by gsport)
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