The Free State Crinums completed a perfect season to be crowned Telkom Netball League Division 1 champions for a fifth time, beating the defending champions Golden Fireballs 46-32 in the final at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Monday, 15 June 2026.
In a repeat of last year’s Division 1 final, the unbeaten Crinums faced the defending champions Fireballs in a highly anticipated title decider. The Crinums arrived yet to taste defeat in the campaign, while the Fireballs were determined to defend the crown they claimed a year ago, setting the stage for a thrilling battle between two of the competition’s standout sides.
“This is one of the most brilliant performances that the Crinums have put up since the beginning of TNL, I’m so proud of these girls.”
Crinums Head Coach, Martha Mosoahle
The opening quarter lived up to expectations as both teams went toe-to-toe from the first centre pass, deadlocked at 3-all after two minutes and clinical in converting their own centre passes. Fireballs goal attack Owethu Ngubane gifted the Crinums a chance when an errant pass found wing attack Karla Victor, but the defending champions were let off the hook as a held ball call handed possession straight back.
Crinums goalkeeper Liame de Lange produced an important intercept with less than five minutes left in the quarter, only for Fireballs goalkeeper Tinita van Dyk to respond with a turnover of her own after capitalising on a loose ball. The defensive battle continued to the end of the quarter, with the score locked at 11-11.
The tension rose in the second quarter as the match grew increasingly physical. Fireballs wing defence Tarle Mathe produced a crucial turnover and, eager to restart play quickly, snatched the ball from Crinums wing defence Sizeka Adoons to take the penalty, but her eagerness proved costly as she was penalised for contact.
The Crinums capitalised on the mounting pressure to extend their lead to three goals. Both goalkeepers, De Lange and Van Dyk, pulled through for their sides, exchanging intercepts, but Crinums shooter Bianca Lubbe added two single shots to help the side stretch the lead to five goals at half-time.
In the third quarter, the Fireballs began to feel the Crinums’ heat, losing several balls in their goal third through unforced errors and missing under the post, which allowed the Crinums to move seven goals clear midway through the quarter. The Fireballs shooting duo of Nonsikelelo Mazibuko and Ngubane struggled to find rhythm in the circle as relentless Crinums defence forced rushed decisions and uncharacteristic misses.
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The low-scoring nature of the quarter reflected the defensive dominance, with the Fireballs managing one goal in eleven minutes and the Crinums adding three as the Free State side extended their lead to ten goals ahead of the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Fireballs coach Dr Elsje Jordaan reshaped the shooting circle, moving Van Dyk from goalkeeper to goal shooter and bringing Mazibuko on at goal attack in place of Ngubane.
The changes yielded some reward as the Fireballs regained confidence and tried to cut the deficit, but the Crinums left no stone unturned to the final whistle, securing a 46-32 victory and finishing the campaign unbeaten after fourteen matches to claim their fifth title.
“They were unshaken, going out there and being untouchable, knowing exactly what was needed and playing beautiful netball even during the final,” said Mosoahle. “They put in the work, and I would like to thank the two captains for keeping them calm even when we were doing well in the first and second leg.”
“The team definitely understood the mandate”
Earlier, the battle for Division 1 status in the promotion and relegation match also lifted the crowd. Fresh from being crowned Division 2 champions after edging the Kingdom Queens by a single goal the previous night, the Western Cape Tornados faced the ultimate test against the Kingdom Stars, who finished bottom of the Division 1 log after winning one of their twelve round-robin matches.
The match was a battle of attrition from the first centre pass, producing multiple turnovers before the Stars scored two minutes in. The Stars relied on their big-match temperament to settle quicker and took a 12-8 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Tornados refused to back down in the second quarter, matching the Stars’ intensity in a goal-for-goal affair with defensive pressure at the heart of the contest.
The third quarter followed a similar pattern, with both teams locked in a tactical battle where every possession mattered. The Stars held a narrow five-goal lead at the end of the third quarter even though the quarter itself ended 10-10, and it was clear that discipline, composure and clinical finishing would decide the final fifteen minutes.
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When the pressure peaked in the fourth quarter, the Stars showed their experience and composure, executing shrewd defence to shut down the Tornados’ desperate push. Their ability to step up when it mattered most saw them secure a hard-fought 42-38 victory and preserve their Division 1 status.
2026 Telkom Netball League Division 1 Final Standings
1. Free State Crinums
2. Golden Fireballs
3. Southern Stings
4. Gauteng Jaguars
5. North West Flames
6. Eastern Cape Aloes
7. Kingdom Stars
TNL Division 1 Individual Accolades:
Best Shooter: Bianca Lubbe (Free State Crinums)
Best Mid-Court Player: Refiloe Nketsa (Free State Crinums)
Best Defender: Karla Pretorius (Free State Crinums)
Player of the Tournament: Nonsikelelo Mazibuko (Golden Fireballs)
2026 Telkom Netball League Division 2 Final Standings
1. Western Cape Tornados
2. Kingdom Queens
3. Free State Sonoblomo
4. Limpopo Baobabs
5. North West Tshukudu
6. Northern Cape Diamonds
7. Mpumalanga Sunbirds
8. Eastern Cape Comets
9. Limpopo Lilies
TNL Division 2 Individual Accolades:
Best Shooter: Aphiwe Thusini (Kingdom Queens)
Best Mid-Court Player: Lara Ehlers (Western Cape Tornados)
Best Defender: Asemahle Dyidi (Western Cape Tornados)
Player of the Tournament: Rochelle Maree (Limpopo Baobabs)
The 2026 Telkom Netball League Power Week 3 Results and Fixtures at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, from Friday, 12 June to Monday, 15 June 2026
Friday, 12 June 2026
D2 Play-off Position 7/8: Mpumalanga Sunbirds 55-49 Eastern Cape Comets
D2 Play-off Position 5/6: Northern Cape Diamonds 40-41 North West Tshukudu
D1 Play-off Position 5/6: North West Flames 51-37 Eastern Cape Aloes
Saturday, 13 June 2026
D2 Semi-Final 1: Western Cape Tornados 53-45 Free State Sonoblomo
D2 Semi-Final 2: Limpopo Baobabs 49-55 Kingdom Queens
D1 Semi-Final 1: Free State Crinums 60-37 Gauteng Jaguars
D1 Semi-Final 2: Golden Fireballs 57-54 Southern Stings
Sunday, 14 June 2026
D1 Play-off Position 3/4: Southern Stings 55-45 Gauteng Jaguars
D2 Play-off Position 3/4: Free State Sonoblomo 62-44 Limpopo Baobabs
Division 2 Final: Western Cape Tornados 47-46 Kingdom Queens
Division 2 Medal Ceremony
Monday, 15 June 2026
15h30 Relegation Match: Kingdom Stars 42-38 Western Cape Tornados
18h00 Division 1 Final: Free State Crinums 46-32 Golden Fireballs
19h30 Division 1 Medal Ceremony
Power Week 1 Wrap
Power Week 2 Wrap
Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Free State Crinums completed an unbeaten season with a 46-32 win over the Golden Fireballs to claim their fifth Telkom Netball League title in the Division 1 final at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Monday, 15 June 2026. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: TNL 2026 Division 1 Best Shooter, Bianca Lubbe; Best Mid-Court Player, Refiloe Nketsa; Player of the Tournament, Nonsikelelo Mazibuko; and Best Defender, Karla Pretorius.
Photo 3 Caption: The Golden Fireballs finished Division 1 runners-up, beaten 46-32 by the unbeaten Free State Crinums in the Telkom Netball League final.
Photo 4 Caption: The Kingdom Stars beat the Western Cape Tornados 42-38 to retain their Division 1 status in the promotion and relegation match.
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