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Teams off to flying start at Championships
Defending champions Mangaung and runners-up Gauteng North, both registered opening victories in the Spar National Netball Championships at the Bellville Velodrome on Monday.
Image courtesy of Stock.xchng
Mangaung, the 2013 winners, beat Frances Baard 61-32 despite being without a trio of Proteas, Maryke Holtzhausen, Karla Mostert and Adele Niemand.
Gauteng North who were without Protea, Chrisna van Zyl, romped home to a 48-31 victory against hosts Western Province.
The Gauteng North side, which includes a number of current and former Proteas, gave coach Jenny van Dyk the unenviable task of selection.
“We have a good balance of experienced and younger, very energetic players,” Van Dyk said.
“The senior players know there are up-and-coming players breathing down their necks, so there’s healthy competition.”
Gauteng North were four goals ahead after the first quarter, and stretched their lead to seven goals at half-time.
By the end of the third quarter, they were 11 goals ahead and in the final quarter, they outscored the hosts by 14 goals to eight.
“Last year, we played very well until the final, and then we fell apart in the second half. We realised then that we needed mental strength,” Van Dyk said.
In other matches Frances Baard and Buffalo City played to a 48-48 drawl, Nelson Mandela Bay beat Gauteng West 41-21, Dr Kenneth Kaunda beat Boland 54-44 and Umgungundlovu thrashed Buffalo City 74-20.
– Sapa
