In a reversal of the 2023 result, SA netball icon Karla Pretorius lead the Free State Crinums to a single point win over this year’s tournament hosts Gauteng Jaguars to be crowned the 2024 Telkom League champions at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 19 June, 2024.
Last year, the Jaguars narrowly defeated the Crinums to be crowned national champions, but this year’s thrilling and intense finale was electrified by a rapt and enthusiastic crowd as the long-awaited rematch of last year’s final between the Jaguars and the Crinums finally arrived.
In a tie that fully lived up to expectations, it seemed like the game might have to go into extra time or even sudden death for the final verdict as both teams put in an exceptional performance in pursuit of the nation’s most highly-anticipated battle of the netball giants.
Karla Pretorius brought a wealth of experience and leadership skills to the Crinum team, making a significant impact in her first season back in South Africa, after years of pro netball in Australia.
Ane Retief and Refiloe Nketsa also played pivotal roles in leading the team, providing valuable guidance to younger players, including Reratilwe Letsoalo.
The Jaguars were initially trailing, but they staged a comeback with their strong mindset. Kamo Maseko, named player of the match, performed well under pressure, displaying clinical skills and providing solid defence, accuracy, and quality feeds to the circle.
The game took a dramatic turn when Alyssa Trahams was awarded a penalty shot with only five seconds remaining in the shooting circle, but the Jaguars ultimately fell short, losing to the Crinums by just the narrowest of margins.
In an earlier encounter, a battle in a promotion/relegation match between 2024 Division B winners the Kingdom Stars and the Limpopo Baobabs.
The Stars went into the match after playing two highly-contested back-to-back matches against the Kingdom Queens and Eastern Cape Comets, as contrasted with the Baobabs, who enjoyed two days’ rest after they played their last match, on Monday, 17 June.
Emily Mathosa’s team lost all their matches throughout the season but won a crucial match when it mattered most.
It took the KD Stars some time to score their first goal, by which time the Limpopo Baobabs team had already won a comfortable lead which they continued to maintain, and as a result, they dominated the promotion / relegation match to book their continued participation in the tournament’s premiere division for 2025.
The Final Results of the 2024 Telkom Netball League Results, on Day 23 at Ellis Park Arena in the City of Johannesburg on Wednesday, 19 June, 2024
Telkom Netball League FinalGauteng Jaguars 46 – 47 Free State Crinums
2024 Promotion / Relegation MatchLimpopo Baobabs 65 – 40 Kingdom Stars
Division 1 Individual Awards
Best Shooter: Alice Kennon – JaguarsBest Centre: Refiloe Nketsa – Free State CrinumsBest Defender: Jamie Van Wyk – JaguarsSTAND TALL Player of the Tournament: Karla Pretorius – Free State Crinums
Telkom Netball League Champions Honours Roll
2024: Free State Crinums2023: Gauteng Jaguars2022: Gauteng Golden Fireballs2021: Gauteng Jaguars2020: Gauteng Jaguars2019: Gauteng Jaguars|2018: Gauteng Jaguars2017: Gauteng Jaguars2016: Free State Crinums2015: Free State Crinums2014: Free State Crinums
Day 1 Results on Friday, 26 April, 2024
Kingdom Stars 53 – 42 TshukuduKingdom Queens 32 – 37 SunbirdsTornados 46 – 34 LiliesJaguars 53 – 40 BaobabsComets 43 – 35 DiamondsFireballs 42 – 39 Flames
Day 2 Results on Saturday, 27 April, 2024
Sunbirds 14 – 7 SonoblomoTshukudu 45 – 41LilliesFlames 43 – 48 StingsJaguars 68 – 37 AloesTornados 37 – 41 KD StarsCrinums 64 – 35 Baobabs
Day 3 Results on Sunday, 28 April, 2024
KD Queens 39 – 48 EC CometsSunbirds 47 – 45 DiamondsStings 47 – 49 FireballsBaobabs 50 – 62 AloesJaguars 48 – 48 Crinums
Day 4 Results on Monday, 29 April, 2024
KD Queens 40 – 32 DiamondsEC Comets 41 – 47 KD StarsSonoblomo 48 – 44 TshukuduLilies 21 – 49 SunbirdsFireballs 33 – 44 CrinumsStings 48 – 53 Jaguars
Day 5 Results on Tuesday, 30 April, 2024
Tornadoes 40 – 42 EC CometsDiamonds 47 – 38 LiliesSonoblomo 52 – 43 KD QueensBaobabs 31 – 70 FireballsKD Stars 42 – 33 SunbirdsFlames 33 – 48 Crinums
Day 6 Results on Wednesday, 1 May, 2024
Sonoblomo 42 – 60 KD StarsDiamonds 42 – 51 TornadoesKD Queens 50 – 49 TshukuduBaobabs 36 – 44 FlamesLilies 34 – 44 EC CometsAloes 35 – 61 Stings
Day 7 Results on Thursday, 2 May, 2024
Lilies 42 – 59 SonoblomoSunbirds 45 – 44 TshukuduAloes 41 – 58 FireballsTornados 60 – 45 KD QueensCrinums 44 – 37 StingsFlames 40 – 60 Jaguars
Day 8 Results on Friday, 3 May, 2024
EC Comets 53 – 40 SunbirdsSonoblomo 52 – 48 TornadosKD Stars 52 – 26 LiliesStings 60 – 34 BaobabsAloes 46 – 51 FlamesTshukudu 56 – 45 Diamonds
Day 9 Results on Saturday, 4 May 2024
Diamonds 47 – 57 SonoblomoTshukudu 35 – 49 EC CometsKD Stars 47 – 49 KD QueensCrinums 57 – 39 AloesSunbirds 41 – 52 TornadosFireballs 53 – 48 Jaguars
Day 10 Results on Sunday, 5 May 2024 (End of Power Week 1)
08:00 Lilies 44 – 49 KD Queens10:00 EC Comets 51 – 43 Sonoblomo12:00 Diamonds 36 – 55 KD Stars14:00 Tshukudu 46 – 62 Tornados
Day 11 Results on Friday, 31 June, 2024 (Power Week 2 Begins)
EC Comets 48 – 44 KD StarsJaguars 78 – 44 BaobabsTornados 56 – 35 LiliesCrinums 53 – 43 AloesFireballs 58 – 43 Flames
Day 12 Results on Saturday, 1 June, 2024
Diamonds 47 – 51 CometsSonoblomo 41 – 42 SunbirdsFlames 52 – 54 AloesKD Queens 39 – 45 TshukuduFireballs 51 – 53 JaguarsCrinums 51 – 43 Stings
Day 13 Results on Sunday, 2 June, 2024
Sonoblomo 40 – 38 LiliesEC Comets 47 – 33 KD QueensTshukudu 49 – 50 KD StarsSunbirds 54 – 48 DiamondsStings 74 – 36 BaobabsAloes 41 – 59 Jaguars
Day 14 Results on Monday, 3 June, 2024
KD Queens 54 – 47 DiamondsSunbirds 46 – 51 CometsTshukudu 57 – 38 SonoblomoKD Stars 41 – 37 TornadosStings 46 – 38 FlamesBaobabs 25 – 65 Crinums
Day 15 Results on Tuesday, 4 June, 2024
Lilies 28 – 47 KD StarsTornados 50 – 41 TshukuduSonoblomo 38 – 40 CometsJaguars 59 – 41 FlamesAloes 41 – 65 Fireballs
Day 16 Results on Wednesday, 5 June, 2024 (End of Power Week 2)
Tornados 50 – 40 DiamondsTshukudu 49 – 43 LiliesKD Stars 53 – 43 SonoblomoAloes 49 – 60 StingsKD Queens 43 – 58 SunbirdsBaobabs 43 – 52 Flames
Day 17 Results on Thursday, 13 June, 2024 (Power Week 3 Begins)
Sonoblomo 54 – 35 KD QueensLilies 53 – 58 DiamondsComets 52 – 39 TornadosKD Stars 54 – 31 SunbirdsStings 46 – 66 JaguarsFireballs 49 – 47 Crinums
Day 18 Results on Friday, 14 June, 2024
KD Queens 42-42 LiliesTshukudu 44-45 CometsDiamonds 47-53 SonoblomoSunbirds 40-62 TornadosCrinums 54-33 FlamesBaobabs 31-72 Fireballs
Day 19 Results on Saturday, 15 June, 2024
Lilies 43 – 50 SunbirdsSonoblomo 49 – 52 TornadosDiamonds 53 – 46 TshukuduKD Queens 38 – 40 KD StarsJaguars 39 – 37 CrinumsStings 49 – 57 Fireballs
Day 20 Results on Sunday, 16 June, 2024 (End of Power Week 3)
Sunbirds 34-55 TshukuduComets 41-37 LilliesKD Stars 47-33 DiamondsKD Queens 40-55 TornadosBaobabs 53-62 Aloes
Telkom Netball League Semi-Final Results on Monday, 17 June, 2024
Division 2 7th/8th Position Playoffs: Kingdom Queens 46 – 53 DiamondsDivision 2 Semi-Final 1: Eastern Cape Comets 50 – 48 Sunbirds (Extra time)Division 2 Semi-Final 2: Kingdom Stars 38 – 37 TornadosDivision 1 Semi-Final 1: Gauteng Jaguars 48 – 46 Southern StingsDivision 1 Semi-Final 2: Golden Fireballs 39 – 43 Free State Crinums
Telkom Netball League Results on Day 22 at Ellis Park Arena in the City of Johannesburg on Tuesday, 18 June, 2024
Division 2 5th/6th Position Playoffs: Freestate Sonoblomo 60 – 61 North West Tshukudu (In Extra Time)Division 1 5th/6th Position Playoffs: Eastern Cape Aloes 51 – 52 North West FlamesDivision 2 3rd/4th Position Playoffs: Sunbirds 39 – 44 TornadosDivision 1 3rd/4th Position Playoffs: Southern Stings 41 – 53 Golden FireballsDivision 2 FINAL – Eastern Cape Comets 35 – 37 Kingdom Stars
The Final Results of the 2024 Telkom Netball League Results, on Day 23 at Ellis Park Arena in the City of Johannesburg on Wednesday, 19 June, 2024
Telkom Netball League FinalGauteng Jaguars 46 – 47 Free State Crinums
2024 Promotion / Relegation MatchLimpopo Baobabs 65 – 40 Kingdom Stars
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: SA netball icon Karla Pretorius has lead the Free State Crinums to a single point win over the Gauteng Jaguars to be crowned the 2024 Telkom League champions at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 19 June, 2024. All Photos: Netball South Africa
