The Ellis Park Arena was electrified with high-standard netball on the court and an enthusiastic crowd as the final day of the Telkom Netball League took centre stage on Wednesday night.
The long-awaited day, with a rematch of last year’s final between the Jaguars and the Crinums, lived up to expectations.
Last year, the Jaguars narrowly defeated the Crinums in the final. However, this year’s match was a different story. The Crinums edged the Jaguars with a 46-47 win, in what was a thrilling and intense encounter.
Both teams put on an exceptional performance
At some point, it seemed like the game might go into extra time or even sudden death. This was anticipated to be a battle of the giants. And both teams put on an exceptional performance in the final.
Karla Pretorious brought a wealth of experience and leadership skills to the Crinum team, making a significant impact. This marked Pretorious’ first season back in South Africa after showcasing her talents in Australia.
Ane Retief and Refiloe Nketsa also played pivotal roles in leading the team. They provided valuable guidance to younger players such as 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. She displayed clinical skills and provided solid defence, accuracy, and feeds to the circle.
However, they ultimately fell short, losing to the Crinums by just one goal. The game took a dramatic turn when Alyssa Trahams was awarded a penalty shot. This was with only five seconds remaining in the shooting circle.
In an earlier encounter, there was a battle in a promotion/relegation match between the 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. Meanwhile, the Baobabs had two days of rest after they played their last match on Monday, June 17.
Won a crucial match when it mattered most
Emily Mathosa’s team lost all their matches throughout the season but won a crucial match when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, it took KD Stars some time to score their first goal. By then, the Limpopo Baobabs team was already in a comfortable lead. They continued to dominate the game and, as a result, they secured their spot in Division A once again.
Full day results:
Promotion/relegation match
Baobabs 65-40 Stars
Division One Final:
Jaguars 46-47 Crinums
Division two individual awards:
Best Shooter: Alice Kennon – Jaguars
And Best Centre: Refiloe Nketsa – Free State Crinums
Best Defender: Jamie Van Wyk – Jaguars
Stand-Tall Player of the Tournament: Karla Pretorious – Free State Crinums
Previous winners:
2023: Gauteng Jaguars
2022: Gauteng Golden Fireballs
2021: Gauteng Jaguars
2020: Gauteng Jaguars
2019: Gauteng Jaguars
2018: Gauteng Jaguars
2017: Gauteng Jaguars
2016: Free State Crinums
2015: Free State Crinums
2014: Free State Crinums
