South Africa’s Proteas showed great fighting spirit in Sunday night’s Netball Nations Cup final against England, pushing the hosts until the end, despite being a player down for a big part of the third quarter.
The Roses eventually lifted the title at Copper Box Arena in London with a 61-55 win that was celebrated by a boisterous home crowd. World No 5 South Africa got off to a flying start and the score was 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Rolene Streutker started at goal shooter, somewhat of a surprise call by coach Jenny van Dyk, considering the form of Elmere van der Berg, who dropped to the bench. Nichole Breedt, the star of the last match as goal attack, also had to settle for a place on the bench.
Struetker justified the coach’s call from the off as SA took the early lead. She didn’t miss a shot in the first quarter. Goal attack Kamogelo Maseko was also back to torment the fourth-ranked Roses, having been rested in that match against Malawi.
The mobility and accuracy of the SA attackers was causing problems for England.
Jamie van Wyk in goal defence was strong on the defensive end. Her partnership with goalkeeper Sanmarie Visser appears to grow stronger in every match.
England pulled within one of the Proteas early in the second quarter but Streutker and Maseko kept SA ahead.
Skipper KC Chawane and centre Refiloe Nketsa were part of the chief supply line. But England would fight back to lead for the first time (21-20). SA were down 26-23 with four minutes to go till half-time.
They trailed 30-28 at the break.
Chawane admitted at half-time that the Proteas had been a bit loose in their play, allowing England back into the game.They would set out to remedy this in the second half.
The Roses started the third quarter stronger, however, pulling six clear at 34-28.
When Nketsa was ejected from the game not long after her yellow, it was a body blow to SA’s chances. But the Proteas refused to wilt, pulling within three (45-42). They trailed 46-43 going into the last 10 minutes of play. A visibly angry Van Dyk had urged her charges to fight hard and they responded.
The final quarter was a heated battle, with Nketsa returning after her suspension.
It was England who had the upper from then on, as they took control of the match. They led 56-52 with five minutes to go. It would be a another test of the SA resolve. And there would be no fairytale ending this time.
Van Dyk admitted in in her post-match interview that she was unclear of the reason for Nktesa’s sending off. But she praised the bravery of her charges.
“I felt that with six minutes played with only six players on court in a final, we have to ask the question what happened there,” Van Dyk said.
“At the end of the day, coming back into the game with only six players on the court that was true South African character and true South African spirit.”
Meanwhile, Uganda beat Malawi 50-45 in the third-place play-off earlier yesterday.