Top among 2024 SPAR National Netball Championships highlights was the tie between Cape Derby rivals represented in this picture by Lize Rossouw of Cape Winelands and Adri Kannemyer of Cape Town A, contesting possession of the ball in their 49-all draw at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024. All Photos: Reg Caldecott

Johannesburg and Mangaung won all their ties to boost their semifinal ambitions on Day 3 of the Spar National Netball Championships hosted by the City of Johannesburg at Ellis Park Arena in Gauteng, on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024.

The two Gauteng teams were the only to reach the end of day three of the SPAR National Netball Championships hosted by the City of Johannesburg with five wins and only one loss in the tournament so far.

Two-time defending champions Johannesburg pulled off an important victory over the team from Potchefstroom, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, but they were made to fight for it, with their opponents leading by five goals at half-time. The hosts did well to fight their way back in an impressive third quarter and then took it away in the final period, winning the match by a somewhat flattering scoreline of 43-36.

It was a bittersweet victory for Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine, who competed in the colours of Dr Kenneth Kaunda last year. “It was an emotional thing. I’ve been with Dr KK for quite some time, it’s where I grew lots as a player,” she said after the match.

“But overall I think it was a good game. They came in all guns blazing. From our side, it may not have been our top performance but we did good.”

As for the prospect of a successful title defence, the captain added: “We’re still on track but need to go back to the drawing board because we can do much better than that.”

Dr Kenneth Kaunda coach Elsunet du Plessis said her side were their own worst enemies.

“It was a good game but I think we let it slip, we let ourselves down and we couldn’t pull it through,” she said afterwards. “We’re very disappointed because we wanted to win today. Obviously everybody wants a win but I think that game could have gone any way.”

Last year’s runners-up Mangaung were the other team to stay on course after a hard-fought 55-53 victory over Cape Town and a 58-47 win over Tshwane.

“This year we are still confident, not that we weren’t last year. It’s just about the connection in the team. The tournament is just a mental game so it’s about who can keep cool at the end,” said Mangaung captain Xandrie Fourie.

Another of the crucial games on Wednesday was the Cape derby between Cape Town and Cape Winelands. It was neck-and-neck throughout, 26-all at half-time, with just one goal in it by the end of the third quarter. Winelands had a player sent off in the final quarter for two minutes but managed to withstand the pressure, and eventually hold on for a 49-all draw and a share of the points.

“There was a lot happening in the game but it was a good game overall and it just represents how good the Western Cape’s netball is and that it ended in a draw is amazing,” said Cape Winelands coach Shasha-Lee Petersen afterwards.

“We had someone coming off for two minutes so we played with six and still ended up drawing, so I’m very proud of the girls and I’m glad that it was a draw,” she added.

Meanwhile, in the under-21 tournament, being played alongside the seniors, defending champions Tshwane claimed a convincing 51-40 victory over Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who had earlier played to a thrilling 40-40 draw with hosts Johannesburg.

Results of the Senior and U21 Spar National Netball Championships at Ellis Park Arena on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024

Senior A

Tshwane A bt eThekwini 53-36
Nelson Mandela Bay A bt Ekurhuleni A 41-39
Johannesburg A bt SA U/21 53-46
Mangaung A bt Cape Town A 55-53
Cape Winelands bt Ekurhuleni A 56-19
Johannesburg A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-36
Nelson Mandela Bay A bt eThekwini A 56-30
Mangaung A bt Tshwane A 58-47
Cape Town A drew Cape Winelands 49-49
SA U/21 bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-40 

U21 A

Cape Town A bt Mangaung 50-37
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A drew Johannesburg A 40-40
Mangaung bt Johannesburg A 52-29
Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 51-40

A Section Results on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024

Nelson Mandela Bay 45 – 51 Cape Town
eThekwini 34 – 33 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 41 – 39 Cape Winelands
Mangaung 50 – 47 Johannesburg
Tshwane 45 – 45 Nelson Mandela Bay
Cape Town 69 – 46 eThekwini
Tshwane 53 – 59 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Winelands 53 – 37 SA U21
Johannesburg 63 – 32 Ekurhuleni
Mangaung 50 – 42 Nelson Mandela Bay
Cape Winelands 62 – 44 Tshwane
eThekwini 34 – 53 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Town 42 – 58 Johannesburg
Ekurhuleni 33 – 61 SA U21
Mangaung 53-42 SA U21

A Section Results on Monday, 2 December, 2024

Cape Town 57 – 45 Ekurhuleni
Cape Winelands 56 – 24 Nelson Mandela Bay
Johannesburg 69 – 35 eThekwini
Tshwane 48 – 42 SA U21
Mangaung 63 -27 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 30 Nelson Mandela Bay
eThekwini 44 – 53 SA U21
Johannesburg 63 – 42 Tshwane
Mangaung 46 – 51 Cape Winelands
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 47 – 51 Cape Town


Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Top among 2024 SPAR National Netball Championships highlights was the tie between Cape Derby rivals represented in this picture by Lize Rossouw of Cape Winelands and Adri Kannemyer of Cape Town A, contesting possession of the ball in their 49-all draw at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024. All Photos: Reg Caldecott

Photo 2 Caption: A bitter-sweet victory for Johannesburg A’s Panashe Chiranga (right) seen competing against Neo Mosweu of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the defending champs roll on.

Photo 3 Caption: Also unbeaten on day 3, Mangaung captain Xandri Fourie tests the limits of her athletic ability for an incredible catch in their win over Cape Town A on Wednesday.

Photo 4 Caption: Cape Town A Centre Amber Coraizin suspended in mid-air, the Cape Derby ending in a draw against Cape Winelands.

Photo 5 Caption: Regan Millard a picture of concentration as she extends Tshwane’s lead in their win against eThekwini at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg.

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