South Africa dominated the series decider to earn a 2-1 victory in the Spar Challenge.
After securing one of the national team’s best series victories in decades, head coach Jenny van Dyk says the Proteas can take some real confidence into their build-up to the Commonwealth Games.
Coasting to a 65-50 win at Ellis Park on Sunday, the SA side earned a 2-1 win in the Spar Challenge series against England.
While the Proteas had triumphed in matches against higher-ranked teams in recent years, they were unable to build on their momentum by winning multiple games against higher-ranked opposition.
At last year’s Netball Nations Cup in the UK, they beat England in the round-robin stage but lost to the hosts in the final.
In the three-match series in Joburg last week, however, they won the first game 52-48, and while the tourists hit back with a 61-49 victory in the second fixture, the Proteas held their nerve to dominate the series decider.
Van Dyk was delighted with the breakthrough performance ahead of the Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in July.
“It took a lot of effort and hard work, and a lot of losses, to get to this point, so it’s a confidence booster,” Van Dyk said.
“But we also understand that the most important part is getting that win when it really matters in the Commonwealth Games, and we’re not taking our eyes off that.”
More work to do ahead of Games
Ranked fifth in the world, Van Dyk admitted the Proteas still needed to improve ahead of the multi-sport Games, as they went in search of the national team’s first Commonwealth medal since 1994.
“We’ve got some work to do in the next five months, and everybody (in the squad) is on board to make sure that when we hit the Commonwealth Games we are the fittest, strongest and most conditioned, and physically ready for that challenge.”
With title holders Australia and former champions England drawn in the same group as South Africa at the Games, they would need to beat at least one of those sides to reach the play-offs, and then win at least one more game in the play-offs to step on the podium.
“Playing a game like that (in the defeat to England at the weekend) and then coming back the next day gives us confidence that we are able to do it,” said Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane.
“Going into that Commonwealth Games with all the work we would have done, we will be even better, so I’m looking forward to that, and it’s an exciting journey that lies ahead.”
