GALLERY: Hot stuff on the netball court
BORDEAUX – Hotshots take on the Yaaaay! team at the Old Parks Africa United Netball League.
Smoking-hot netball was played on the opening day of the Old Parks Africa United Netball League.
Fast5 netball matches were played at a high intensity, as 10 teams collided at the Old Parktonian Sports Club, Bordeaux, on 4 August. One anticipated match was the opener between Hotshots, an experienced and successful team, and Yaaaay! – a new team.
Hotshots opened the scoring early but were then caught off-guard by strong attacking play by Yaaaay! The latter scored twice before Hotshots could rally and better defend their goal. Momentum began to shift before the end of the quarter, and Hotshots scored twice more to make it 3–2 at the break.
It was already clear that both teams had very strong attacks, but Hotshots brought it to another level in the second quarter when they took their power play. The power play means that the team that takes it scores double points during that quarter. Hotshots made some substitutions, most noticeably bringing on goal attack, Vuyo Njenje, who turned the match into a goal fest.
Hotshots players worked the ball to Njenje, whose shooting was so accurate it was hard to believe. Her teammates supported her well through fast passing and movements, which Yaaaay! had no answer to. Njenje scored so many times, even she said afterwards she lost count of her goals.
The score was 22–3 to Hotshots at half time, and Yaaaay! took their power play in the third quarter out of desperation. It was to little avail, though, as they could not score as freely as Hotshots. The score was 26–7 after the third quarter, and then 33–7 at full time, a comfortable win for Hotshots.
“The game went well,” said Hotshots player Anrich Teessen. “We did the basics right and consolidated every goal we scored.” Despite the one-sided result, players showed good sportsmanship afterwards, and Yaaaay! was positive they would come back in the league. “We need to practise and work more as a team,” said Yaaaay! player Linda le Warne. “But the other teams had better look out for us, we will come back.”
