SA netball team beat Uganda 43-36

By ANA Sports Last updated Mar 29, 2021

SA netball team beat Uganda

Bongi Msomi captain of South Africa in action against Uganda She Cranes during the Spar Challenge International Tri Nations. The Proteas beat Uganda 43 – 36 in the sixth test match played on Sunday, 28 March 2021 at the CTICC, Cape Town in Western Cape Province. Picture Credit: Reg Caldecott

JOHANNESBURG, March 29 (ANA) – South Africa won 43-36 as they recorded their third successive win over the Ugandan She-Cranes in the Spar Challenge Tri-Nations netball tournament at the Cape Town International Conference Centre on Sunday.

The She-Cranes, who beat Namibia 59-30 earlier in the day, started well and were just two goals behind after the first quarter, before sharing the second quarter 9-9.

It was a hard-fought game, with defenders on both teams succeeding in turning the ball and preventing the shooters from scoring. Monique Reyneke’s performance in goal defence earned her second most valued player award.

SA captain Bongi Msomi (wing attack) and centre Izette Griesel controlled the centre court well, ensuring the ball moved to the circle as quickly as possible.

The Proteas – as the SA netball team are known – began to exert their authority in the third quarter and gradually pulled away from the She-Cranes. They outscored them 13-9 in the third quarter, but Uganda came back in the final quarter, which they lost 10-9.

“We knew Uganda would come in hard against us, because this was a very important game,” said SA coach Dorette Badenhorst.

“They put a lot of pressure on us – especially the young players in the circles. But the more established players gave the newer players the backing they needed, and I am very pleased with the way the team is working together.”

Ugandan captain Stella Oyella said the She-Cranes had put up a good fight and were learning every time they played against South Africa.

“We are very much a team – our motto is ‘we are the She-Cranes, we are one,” said Oyella.

In the curtain raiser match, the Baby Proteas scored their first win over the President’s XII, beating them 48-41, after trailing 25-22 at halftime.

They play them again on Monday at 4pm, as a curtain raiser to the match between the Proteas and Namibia at 6pm.

There will be no spectators at the matches, which will be televised live on SuperSport Variety 4. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman