A very proud winning Mangaung Metro team, after defeating three-time defending champions Gauteng North in the SPAR National Championships final. From left to right in the back row are Maryka Holtzhausen, Mari-Lise Linde, Carine Terblanche, Karla Mostert, Iselma Parkin, Zi-Mari Smit, Michael Shaw (Trainer) and Burta de Kock (Coach), (middle) Lauren-Lee Christians, Adelle Niemand (Captain), Sheherezide Duimpies, Ane Botha and Success Lekaba, (and front) Corne Marais (Manager) and Dakalo Tshikala. Photo: Reg Caldecott

Mangaung (formerly Free State) finally got a monkey off their backs when they became netball champions for the first time in more than 50 years, when they came from behind to beat Gauteng North 39-36 in the final of the SPAR National Championships at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Saturday.

The last time a Free State team won the national title was when Southern Free State became champions in 1961 and 1962.

(Scroll down to see Day 1Day 2Day 3, Day 4Quarter- and Semi-Final and Final Results)

A smiling Adele Niemand, captain of Mangaung Metro holds her team’s trophy high after their win in over 50 years. Photo: Reg CaldecottMangaung have played in six finals in the past 10 years, but until now have been on the losing side, while Gauteng North were aiming for their fourth successive title. “If you play in six finals, you’ve got to win eventually,” joked a beaming Maryka Holtzhausen, the Mangaung Vice-Captain, as the reality struck home.

Mangaung were first off the block in the opening quarter, during which the lead changed hands from minute to minute, with Gauteng North ending 11-9 ahead. The defending champions stretched their lead in the second quarter, and at times were as many as six goals ahead. They led 21-17 at halftime.

But the Free State team stormed back after the break, scoring eight of the first nine goals in the quarter. While Gauteng had looked the more polished side in the first half, with accurate passes and quick decision-making, the roles were reversed in the second half, with Mangaung looking self-assured and confident.

“We made a couple of positional changes at halftime, and that gave the team more space to play creatively,” said Coach Burta de Kock. Mangaung led 28-26 at the end of the third quarter. In the final 15 minutes, goals went largely according to the centre pass, and Mangaung managed to keep their noses in front.

“At one stage, I asked how long was left,” said goal attack Holtzhausen. “I was told there were two and a half minutes, and those were the longest of my life. We knew we just had to keep the ball in hand and we could do it.”

“I’m so proud of my players,” said Captain Adele Niemand, who was named player of the tournament. “I’ve been playing for Free State for 10 years, and it’s a dream come true that we have finally won the title. It was a real team effort, and showed that all our hard work has paid off.”

De Kock said they had known the match was going to be tough, but she said the leadership on the court was what had made the difference. “The players stuck to their game plan and showed their determination. I told them they could win if they wanted to win more than they wanted to breathe. This was a fantastic outcome for a coach.”

In the play-off for third place, Dr Kenneth Kaunda (formerly North West South) beat Nelson Mandela Bay 53-44. Boland B beat Gauteng North B 39-29 to win the B-section and Ilembe beat Nkangala 40-35 to win the C-section.

 

2013 SPAR National Netball Championship Results at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng, in the North West, on Saturday, 10 August, 2013:
A Section Final:
Mangaung 39-36 Gauteng North
3rd/4th: Dr Kenneth Kaunda 53-44 Nelson Mandela Bay
5th/6th: Gauteng Central 40-35 Boland
7th/8th: Western Province 52-38 Frances Baard
Individual Awards:
Best Shooter: Dumisane Chauke (90.3%) – Nelson Mandela Bay
Best Centre-Court Player: Bongiwe Msomi – Umgungundlovu
Best Defender: Karla Mostert – Mangaung
Player of the tournament: Adele Niemand – Mangaung
B Section Final:
Boland 39-29 Gauteng North
3rd/4th: Gauteng West 56-50 Nelson Mandela Bay
C Section Final:
Ilembe 40-35 Nkangala
 
Results: Day Five of the SPAR National Netball Championships on Friday, 9 August, 2013:
A Section:
Semi-Finals:
Gauteng North 57-37 Nelson Mandela Bay
Mangaung 50-36 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
5-8th Place Playoffs:
Gauteng Central 44-38 Western Province
Boland 55-52 Frances Baard
Quarter-Finals:
Gauteng North 57-38 Western Province
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 59-32 Boland
Mangaung 66-22 Frances Baard
Nelson Mandela Bay 49-31 Gauteng Central
Playoffs:
Ekurhuleni 35-33 Royal Bafokeng
Umgungundlovu 54-44 Buffalo City
B Section:
Zululand 60-33 Amathole
Western Province 55-42 West Coast
Gert Sibande 41-38 SWD
Bojanala 55-38 Vhembe
Capricorn 42-34 Central Boland
Gauteng North 34-28 Gauteng West
Boland 59-26 Nelson Mandela Bay
Zululand 65-40 Cacadu
C Section:
Ilembe 64-39 Ehlanzeni
Ethekwini 49-47 SANDF
Waterberg 52-23 Royal Bafokeng B
Gauteng Vaal 34-33 Fezile Dabi
Siyanda 30-28 Chris Hani
NM Molema 47-30 Uthukela
Umzinyathi W/O Sekhukhune
Nkangala 56-33 Ehlanzeni
Western Province 51-31 SANDF
Uthungulu 58-47 Waterberg
Gauteng Vaal 48-31 Alfred Nzo
Sisonke 43-28 Siyanda
NM Molema 61-34 Umzinyathi
Ethekwini 51-44 SANDF
Waterberg 44-36 Royal Bafokeng
Alfred Nzo 47-41 Fezile Dabi
Chris Hani 47-35 Siyanda
 
Results: Day Four of the SPAR National Netball Championships on Thursday, 8 August, 2013:
A Section:
Mangaung 51-29 Boland
Frances Baard 69-59 Umgungundlovu
Buffalo City 48-42 Royal Bafokeng
Gauteng North 74-26 Nelson Mandela Bay
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 54-36 Gauteng Central
Umgungundlovu 41-39 Western Province
Boland 47-24 Royal Bafokeng
Frances Baard 54-51 Ekurhuleni
B Section:
Nelson Mandela Bay 50-42 Vhembe
Gert Sibande W/O Cacadu
Gauteng North 54-41 Zululand
Gauteng West 61-26 West Coast
Capricorn 32-29 Amathole
SWD 42 Western-41 Province
Boland 53-21 Bojanala
Gert Sibanda 36-31 Nelson Mandela Bay
Gauteng West 52-33 Cacadu
Vhembe 34-34 Capricorn
Gauteng North 49-26 Bojanala
Zululand 56-43 Central Boland
West Coast 41-30 Amathole
Boland 51-22 Western Province
C Section:
SANDF 56-26 Royal Bafokeng
Ilembe 49-40 NM Molema
Ethekwini 50-45 Waterberg
Gauteng Vaal 73-25 Umzinyathi
Nkangala 45-40 Uthungulu
Alfred Nzo 45-29 Sekhukhune
Ilembe 54-33 Siyanda
Royal Bafokeng 42-41 NM Molema
Gauteng Vaal 41-20 Uthukela
Ethekwini 62-31 Umzinyathi
Western Province 49-26 Sisonke
Ehlanzeni 66-27 Chris Hani
Uthungulu 61-22 Sekhukhune
 
Results: Day Three of the SPAR National Netball Championships on Wednesday, 7 August, 2013:
A Section:
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 60-33 Ekurhuleni
Mangaung 44-33 Nelson Mandela Bay
Gauteng Central 55-28 Frances Baard
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 53-42 Western Province
Umgungundlovu 38-29 Ekurhuleni
Gauteng North 61-19 Boland
Mangaung 76-26 Royal Bafokeng
Nelson Mandela Bay 54-34 Buffalo City
B Section:
Nelson Mandela Bay 60-26 Capricorn
Gert Sibanda 46-23 Amathole
Gauteng West 49-39 Vhembe
West Coast 45-40 Cacadu
Gauteng North 52-23 SWD
Zululand 38-35 Bojanala
Boland 58-20 Central Boland
Gauteng West 53-26 Nelson Mandela Bay
West Coast 48-35 Vhembe
Bojanala 51-34 Central Boland
Zululand 53-31 SWD
Gert Sibanda 47-25 Capricorn
Cacadu 48-38 Amathole
Gauteng North 51-40 Western Province
C Section:
SANDF 55-47 NM Molema
Waterberg 70-14 Umzinyathi
Gauteng Vaal 52-41 Ehlanzeni
Ethekwini 66-23 Uthukela
Western Province C 59-23 Alfred Nzo
Nkangala 84-15 Sekhukhune
NM Molema 57-38 Siyanda
Fezile Dabi 53-36 Royal Bafokeng
Waterberg 43-39 Ehlanzeni
Ethekwini 66-25 Chris Hani
Uthukela 34-21 Umzinyathi
Ngangala 49-36 Western Province
Uthungulu 53-25 Sisonke
 
Results: Day Two of the SPAR National Netball Championships 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 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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