The local Jaguars Netball team caused quite an upset last week when they beat New Zealand’s top club team, Southern Steels, 65-61 in their first game of the SuperClub Tournament in Nelson.

Head coach Jenny van Dyk was justifiably proud of her team’s performance saying that you could hear a pin drop moments after the final whistle blew. None of the spectators apparently could believe what they had just witnessed.

Van Dyk ascribed the success of the Jaguars, which is basically an all Tuks team, to have taken the lessons they learned during last year’s tournament to heart and really leaving nothing to chance this time around in the way they prepared.

“We were not off to the best of starts against the Southern Steels. In part, it was my fault as I might have erred in the way the teamed warmed up but everything clicked after I made some changes during the first break. I was really impressed with the confident manner in which the players played.  They did not allow themselves to be intimidated. Their play was not one dimensional,” said Van Dyk.

Marlize de Bruin (centre) said the Jaguars won because they as players managed to execute the basics to perfection.

“Every one of us did what was expected. To beat New Zealand’s top team was amazing. It definitely is a good confidence booster. However, we should not allow ourselves to get carried away. It was only our first game. What happened, happened we got now to get focused for tonight’s game,” De Bruin concluded.

During last year’s tournament, the Jaguars managed to win only one game and drew one.

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