Hartties Netball Club announced their arrival in emphatic fashion, staging a spirited comeback to defeat Cornwall Hill College 35-29 and clinch gold on debut at the St Dunstan’s College Easter Sports Festival on April 6.

The Atlasville side showed remarkable composure and grit, overturning a five-point third-quarter deficit to seal a memorable victory against a resilient Cornwall outfit.

After a cagey start, Cornwall edged the opening quarter 7-6 and carried that momentum into halftime with a narrow 19-17 lead.

But Hartties emerged from the break with renewed purpose, flipping the script through clinical shooting from captain and shooter of the tournament, Roxy van Rooyen, and a defensive masterclass led by Zinhle Khumalo.

Their dominance began to show in the third quarter as they surged ahead 27-24, before closing out the contest with authority, adding eight crucial points in the final stretch to secure a famous 35-29 win.

Given both sides’ dramatic semi-final paths, a blockbuster final was always on the cards. Cornwall booked their place with a last-gasp 29-28 win over hosts St Dunstan’s after nearly surrendering a commanding 27-19 lead, while Hartties dug deep to edge Hillcrest High in extra time following a thrilling 34-all draw in regular time.

Despite having beaten Cornwall in the group stages, Hartties knew the final would demand more, and they delivered when it mattered most.

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Head coach Buda Seoli praised his young squad for their resilience and fighting spirit.

“I feel excited, especially for the girls. They did everything and they deserve it,” said Seoli.

“I’m working with eight U15 players and four U17s. This is a massive achievement for them. They showed great heart, even if inexperience crept in at times.”

Seoli admitted their semi-final performance exposed their youth, but credited the team’s ability to learn quickly and respond under pressure.

“It should have been more comfortable, but we made errors. After extra time, I told them to reset and go all out in the final and they did exactly that.”

He also highlighted the tactical adjustments that proved decisive, particularly in transition.

“This is the highest level they’ve played at, so there was a bit of culture shock. But I told them to keep running the channels and create options, especially when we were under pressure in the middle. They adapted well and executed when it counted.”

The girls now turn their attention to the Ekurhuleni Netball League.

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