A critical error minutes before the final whistle cost North West South the title at the Spar inter-provincial championships at Howard College on Saturday. Leading 39-38 with less than a minute to go, North West South fumbled a penalty pass and allowed Gauteng North back into the match. When the hooter sounded, the teams were level on 39-all, and the match had to go into extra time.
They were level on 42-all after the first five minutes of extra time, but Gauteng North pulled away in the second five minutes to win by 48 goals to 44, to win the title for the first time since 2000.
North West South were the surprise package of the tournament, sweeping past more experienced and highly regarded teams on their way to the final.
Gauteng North are always a good side, although they last reached a final in 2001. Both are young teams, and both are coached by former national coaches – Elize Kotze Gauteng North and Marlene Wagner North West South.
It was North West South all the way at the start of the final. They led 14-8 after the first quarter, and at halftime were 24-20 ahead.
But Gauteng North came back strongly in the third quarter which ended with the teams level on 31-all, exchanging goal for goal in the final quarter until North West South South’s error in the final minute.
Goal attack Annelle Besselaar was the outstanding player of the final, and was deservedly named player of the tournament as well as goalshooter of the tournament.
The 19-year scored 36 goals from 40 attempts, and her calmness and deadly accuracy were largely responsible for Gauteng north’s victory. “Our very young team showed great character, and I think they kept their cool in extra time, and that was what made the difference,” she said. “They trust and respect one another, and they play for one another.”
Kotze also praised veteran goalkeeper and captain, 37-year-old Desmarie Kotze as a brilliant leader and mentor. “I can’t begin to tell you what her presence means to this team,” she said.
“Nine of our players are under-20, and she takes care of them, teaches them and helps them. I think her leadership was what counted, particularly in extra time.”
North West South coach Marlene Wagner acknowledged that critical errors at crucial times had cost her team the title. “Too many errors, and we didn’t play right to the end,” she said.
“At times, they lost concentration, and their timing was not as good as it could have been.”
“But I’m very proud of my young team,” she said. “They did extremely well in this tournament, and they will continue to do so.”
Amanda Mynhaard from North West South was named defender of the tournament, and Vasta Mhlongo the midfield player of the tournament. Western Province finished in third position, after beating last year’s champions, Boland, 39-28 in the play-off for third place.
Nelson Mandela Bay came fifth, Free State sixth, Gauteng Central seventh, Gauteng East eighth and Zululand, who did not win a single match, finished ninth.
Zululand did have something to celebrate, however, as the men’s team won the men’s championship, beating Gauteng Central 40-39 in the final.
Final Placings in the SPAR National Netball Championships played at Kwazulu Natal University Indoor Sports Centre, Howard Campus on Saturday, 11 August 2007.
Women A Section:
1 Gauteng North
2 North West South
3 Western Province
4 Boland
5 Nelson Mandela Bay
6 Free State
7 Gauteng Central
8 Gauteng East
9 Zululand
Women B Section:
1 Gauteng West
2 Griqualand West A
3 Western Province B
4 Swartland A
5 Capricorn A
6 Lowveld A
7 Gauteng Vaal
8 Limpopo North East
9 Amathole
Women C Section:
1 Waterberg A
2 South Western Districts
3 Gauteng West
4 Highveld
5 Midlands
6 North West East
7 Ethekwini A
8 Ethekwini B
9 OR Tambo A
10 Central Boland
11 Griqualand West B
12 North West Central
Results of the SPAR National Netball Championships on Saturday, 11 August 2007.
Women Section A Final:
Gauteng North 49 – 44 North West South (after extra time)
Play-off for 3rd and 4th positions:
Western Province 39 – 28 Boland
Play-off for 5th and 6th positions:
Nelson Mandela Bay 44 – 40 Free State
Play-off for 7th and 8th positions:
Gauteng Central 47 – 42 Gauteng East
Women Section B
Capricorn 37 – 37 Swartland
Women Section C
Griqualand West B 56 – 27 North West Central
Lowveld 65 – 28 Limpopo North East
Waterberg 40 – 32 South Western Districts
OR Tambo 48 – 28 Boland Central
Midlands 48 – 31 North West East
Ethekwini 35 – 5 Lowveld
Results of the SPAR National Netball Championships on Friday, 10 August 2007.
Women’s Section A
North West South 44 – 38 Western Province
Gauteng North 28 – 25 Boland
Gauteng East 57 – 26 Zululand
Western Province 47 – 35 Nelson Mandela
North West South 65 – 41 Gauteng Central
Free State 44 – 40 Gauteng North
Free State 53 – 41 Gauteng East
Nelson Mandela – 34 Gauteng Central
Women’s Section B
Gauteng West 75 – 41 Lowveld
Western Province 61 – 42 Amathole
Gauteng Vaal 48 – 41 Griqualand West
Capricorn 45 – 18 Vhembe
Swartland 60 – 27 Amathole
Women’s Section C
Ethekwini 51 – 40 Griqualand West
Waterberg 52 – 44 South West District
Highveld 43 – 38 Ethekwini
North West East 66 – 20 North West Central
Gauteng West 42 – 38 Midlands
Midlands 45 – 37 Ethekwini
North West East 40 – 38 Ethekwini
South West District 36 – 23 Gauteng West
Waterberg 49 – 27 Highveld
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