Spar Proteas hopeful heads to final match in London

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The courageous SPAR Proteas are looking to keep their Vitality Netball Nations Cup final hopes alive after clinching England’s 61-59 victory against Vitality Roses on Sunday night.

This coming Saturday, the fearless Proteas will face Malawi, competing for the final spot at Copper Box Arena in London with the final set for Sunday at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.

On Sunday, the match against England was tightly contested, with scores level at the end of the first three quarters. South Africa started strong in the first quarter, but England fought back to equalize.

Both teams exchanged goals in the later stages of the opening quarter, with South Africa displaying patience in defense and determination. The opening quarter score was 14-14.

SPAR Proteas head coach Jenny van Dyk expressed satisfaction with the outcome but stressed that much work remains. However, she praised the team for their consistent hard work.

“The work is not done yet. We still have another weekend to go and the final spot that we need to secure. I think it’s secured, but we want to win that one as well. So, there’s still a lot we need to do,” explained Van Dyk.

In the second quarter, both teams battled fiercely, concluding a closely contested first half with scores tied at 30-30.

It was clear that the final quarter would determine the match’s outcome. With the score tied at 46-46 at the end of the third quarter, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.

As it has become the norm in SPAR Proteas games, the fourth quarter was their strongest. They shifted gears in the final quarter and were able to breach the hosts’ defense in quick succession. 

Due to their impressive shooting, the SPAR Proteas maintained a consistent lead and with ten minutes remaining, the SPAR Proteas held a three-goal advantage.

England struggled to keep up with the pace at which South Africa moved the ball in the final quarter, complemented by swift movement and agility. With seven minutes to go, South Africa extended their lead to nine points.

Spar Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament

A late onslaught by the host nation was not enough to draw level, as they fell short by two points, losing the final quarter 13-15. This 61-59 win propelled the SPAR Proteas to the top of the four-team table. 

South Africa are the only unbeaten side in the tournament following an impressive 75-40 victory over Uganda on Saturday in their tournament opener.

Sanmarie Visser, crowned player of the match after an impressive performance, expressed her belief that the team could achieve even greater success.

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She emphasized that the victory over England was crucial for building confidence.

Visser added: “It means so much. We knew what we would be up against when we came here. We had a good game plan, and it means so much for us to come here and beat England on their home ground”.

Before the match against England, currently ranked fourth in the world, the hosts had a stronger historical record against fifth-ranked South Africa.

England has dominated their encounters, winning 52 out of 69 matches, while South Africa claimed victory in 16, with the remainder ending in a draw.

Score Breakdown – England vs South Africa: Q1: 14-14, Q2: 30-30, Q3: 46-46, Q4: 59-61