The Crinums completed a remarkable unbeaten campaign to secure their fifth championship title with a commanding 46-32 victory over defending champions Fireballs in the Division One final.
In a repeat of last year’s title decider, the match lived up to expectations early on, with both sides locked at 11-11 after a fiercely contested opening quarter. The Crinums gradually asserted their dominance in the second quarter, capitalising on defensive pressure and crucial turnovers to build a five-goal halftime advantage.
The Free State outfit tightened their grip after the break, producing a defensive masterclass that restricted Fireballs to just one goal in the opening eleven minutes of the third quarter. With Goalkeeper Liame de Lange leading a relentless defensive effort and shooter Bianca Lubbe delivering under pressure, the Crinums stretched their lead to ten goals heading into the final period.
Despite tactical changes from Fireballs coach Dr Elsje Jordaan, the defending champions were unable to mount a comeback as the Crinums closed out an emphatic victory to finish the season unbeaten after 14 matches and reclaim the crown.
This is one of the most brilliant performances that the Crinums have put up since the beginning of TNL,said coach Martha Mosoahle. They were unshaken, knew exactly what was needed, and played beautiful netball even in the final. The team understood the mandate and delivered.
Meanwhile,the promotion/relegation clash provided another thrilling contest as Kingdom Stars successfully retained their Division One status with a hard-fought 42-38 win over newly crowned Division Two champions Tornados.
The Stars settled quicker after a tense start and established a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Tornados responded with determination, but the Division One side maintained their composure throughout a tightly contested battle. Holding a five-goal advantage heading into the final quarter, Kingdom Stars relied on disciplined defence and clinical execution to withstand Tornados’ late charge and secure their place in the top division for another season.