Two-time defending champions Johannesburg suffered their first loss tournament, going down 50-47 to last year’s silver medalists, Mangaung, on the day two of the Spar National Netball Championships, hosted by the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng, on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024.
The home side kicked off the tournament with two victories on Monday but then stumbled against the side they beat in the final last year, to win their second consecutive title, but recovered with two fine wins later in the day’s results.
Johannesburg struggled from the start of Tuesday’s opening match, and while they came back stronger towards the end of the game, there was no preventing the 17-goal loss.
Mangaung had a brilliant Tuesday after mixed results on the opening day, where they won one and lost another of their matches, but their victory over Johannesburg on day two was a significant one, according to the coach.
“It was extremely important for us. Especially after losing to Cape Winelands yesterday … Coming in and winning that big match for us was very necessary, and I think it was really a confidence booster.”
Mangaug Head Coach, Martha Mosoahle-Samm
Manguang went on to also beat Nelson Mandela Bay 50-42 and the SA under-21 side 53-42 on Tuesday. Speaking about the prospect of taking the title this year after coming so close in 2023, former Spar Proteas captain Mosoahle-Samm added:
“I am 100 per cent confident, especially after this morning’s performance. Every coach comes in confident but it’s going to be tough. The girls are expecting it, we’re ready for the toughness… I think we showed this morning how badly we want it.”
Johannesburg bounced back from their loss to beat Ekurhuleni 63-32 and then inflicted a first defeat on Cape Town, beating them 58-42 in the final match of the day, meaning no A section teams remained unbeaten after the second day of the tournament.
“This game was very important to us because we had to first of all redeem ourselves from the first game and reward ourselves a little bit for all the hard work that we’re doing,” said the Johannesburg captain said afterwards.
“I feel like with this game we really fought back, and that’s definitely the spirit we know we have and that we need throughout the tournament.”
Johannesburg Captain, Didintle Keebine
In other results, Cape Winelands also suffered their first loss of the competition, going down 41-39 to Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who won all three of their games on Tuesday, while Ekurhuleni are still in search of their first victory after losing all three of theirs.
It turned into a day to forget for defending champions as the 2023 Under-21 winners, Tshwane, were also handed their first loss, beaten 33-35 by Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, four deaf netball teams took to the court in their own mini tournament which has been included in the SPAR National Netball Championships for the first time.
The only difference with the other matches being played is that the umpires use bright flags to attract the players’ attention, rather than whistles.
Speaking after the matches, Patricia Kgamane said:
“This is very important for us as Deaf Netball South Africa. When you look back in history, this has never happened so this is a great opportunity and it’s got a lot of benefits, to motivate and inspire many athletes who will want to become part of this.”
President of Deaf Netball South Africa Patricia Kgamane
“We want to thank Netball South Africa for integrating disability sport. This is what we call inclusion.”
A Section Results on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Nelson Mandela Bay 45 – 51 Cape TowneThekwini 34 – 33 EkurhuleniDr Kenneth Kaunda 41 – 39 Cape WinelandsMangaung 50 – 47 JohannesburgTshwane 45 – 45 Nelson Mandela BayCape Town 69 – 46 eThekwiniTshwane 53 – 59 Dr Kenneth KaundaCape Winelands 53 – 37 SA U21Johannesburg 63 – 32 EkurhuleniMangaung 50 – 42 Nelson Mandela BayCape Winelands 62 – 44 TshwaneeThekwini 34 – 53 Dr Kenneth KaundaCape Town 42 – 58 JohannesburgEkurhuleni 33 – 61 SA U21Mangaung 53-42 SA U21
A Section Results on Monday, 2 December, 2024
Cape Town 57 – 45 EkurhuleniCape Winelands 56 – 24 Nelson Mandela BayJohannesburg 69 – 35 eThekwiniTshwane 48 – 42 SA U21Mangaung 63 -27 EkurhuleniDr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 30 Nelson Mandela BayeThekwini 44 – 53 SA U21Johannesburg 63 – 42 TshwaneMangaung 46 – 51 Cape WinelandsDr Kenneth Kaunda 47 – 51 Cape Town
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Cape Town Deaf Netball Team are pictured with Deaf Netball SA President, Ms Patricia Kgamane (middle) on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, marking a historic first four teams playing at the 2024 SPAR National Netball Championships at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024. All Photos: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 Caption: Defending champs Johannesburg suffered a first loss to Mangaung, with no unbeaten A Section team remaining in the tournament.
Photo 3 Caption: Mangaung built on their Day 2 opening win to also beat Nelson Mandela Bay and the talented SA U21 team to put their day 1 loss to Cape Winelands behind them.
Photo 4 Caption: Sian Moore in action for Cape Town, who beat Nelson Mandela Bay and eThekwini before going down to Joburg in their final outing of the day on Tuesday.
Photo 5 Caption: Dr Kenneth Kaunda edged Cape Winelands before also beating Tshwane and eThekwini to remain firmly in reach of the top of the leaderboard after Day 2.
