The 2023 Telkom Netball League Power Week 1 culminated in success at the Ngoako Ramathlodi Sports Complex in Polokwane. The first leg of TNL had it all: close encounters, draws, one-goal thrillers, blown-out victories and even upsets. Once again, it has proven why it is, without a doubt, the best netball league in South Africa. We saw the best teams in South Africa battle it out in this highly competitive league, and we got a glimpse of some potential final contenders and wooden spooners.
Division 1
It was an exciting week of netball in Division 1 of the TNL. There are three teams, who remain undefeated. These teams include the Golden Fireballs, who seemed to pick up, right where they left off in 2022. Despite having a brand-new team, they look better than ever before. Some new faces have shown great talent in the first few games.
A mention has to be made for Jeante Strydom, (who has just made the Netball World Cup team) who was able to tenaciously turn ball and grab intercepts throughout games.
The Southern Stings and Crinums also started their campaigns with a bang, both ending the first leg with three from three wins. The Gauteng Jaguars had a shaky start to their season, suffering narrow losses at the hands of the Gauteng Golden Fireballs and Free State Crinums. We do know that the Jags generally tend to bounce back, so keep a lookout to see an improved team in the second term of the league.
Following the Kingdom Stars, you would argue that they definitely managed to dodge a bullet by staying in Division 1 this year after losing to the Aloes in the relegation match last year. They managed to turn the tables when they encountered the Aloes this year, beating them 41-32. That, however, was their high moment from the Power Week as they suffered major losses against the top three teams in the Division.
The Aloes and Flames are certainly struggling to find their feet, this is of course – a new environment for the Aloes, and the Flames are missing their key element at the shooting end, with the Elemeré van den Berg still managing an injury.
Division 1 Results: 27 April 2023 – 30 April 2023
27 APRIL 2023
Stars | 41 -32 | Aloes, Player of the Match: Thulisile Maduna (Stars – GD)
Stings | 51 – 33 | Flames, Player of the Match: Phumza Maweni (Stings – GK)
Fireballs | 45 – 40 | Jaguars, Player of the Match: Monica Gomases (Fireballs – C)
28 APRIL 2023
Stings | 51 – 23 | Stars, Player of the Match: Syntiche Kabuya (Stings – GK)
Jaguars | 52 – 58 | Crinums, Player of the Match: Khanyisa Chawane (Crinums – WA/C)
Flames | 32 – 56 | Fireballs, Player of the Match: Jeanté Strydom (Fireballs – GD)
29 APRIL 2023
Fireballs | 54 – 33 | Stars, Player of the Match: Bongiwe Msomi (Fireballs – WA)
Stings | 64 – 34 | Aloes, Player of the Match: Danielle van Nieuwenhuizen (Stings – WD/C)
Crinums | 55 – 36 | Flames, Player of the Match: Refiloe Nketsa (C/GD)
30 APRIL 2023
Stars | 29 – 48 | Crinums, Player of the Match: Refiloe Nketsa (Crinums – GD)
Aloes | 42 – 63 | Fireballs, Player of the Match: Tinita van Dyk (Fireballs – GK/GS)
Jaguars | 47 – 29 | Flames, Player of the Match: Jasmine Ziegelmeier (Jaguars – GK)
Division 1 Log Standings On 1 May 2023
| Team | Played | Win | Loss | Draw | GF | GA | GD | Avg. | Points | |
| 1 | Fireballs | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 218 | 147 | 71 | 1,483 | 8 |
| 2 | Stings | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 90 | 76 | 1,844 | 6 |
| 3 | Crinums | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 161 | 117 | 44 | 1,376 | 6 |
| 4 | Jaguars | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 139 | 132 | 7 | 1,053 | 2 |
| 5 | Stars | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 126 | 185 | -59 | 0,681 | 2 |
| 6 | Aloes | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 108 | 168 | -60 | 0,643 | 0 |
| 7 | Flames | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 130 | 209 | -79 | 0,622 | 0 |
Division 2
The Division 2 log is quite congested at the top, with only two points separating number one (Tornados) and number four (Baobabs) on the log. There are two unbeaten teams as it stands, with the Tornados and Diamonds having a blistering start to their TNL, managing three from three wins.
The Sunbirds encountered a thrilling first match which resulted in a draw (32-32) against the Comets. Although they had a shaky start, they came out firing in their next two games managing major victories against the Kingdom Queens and Lilies
The Baobabs only suffered one loss, where the Tornados scored the last goal in the dying seconds of the match to close it off with a one-goal (48-47) victory. The Comets and Kingdom Queens both had one more game on their roster than any other team in the division. But they still find themselves in the bottom half of the log, only managing to get one victory each.
As everyone anticipated, the new additions to the TNL, the Sonoblomo and Lilies did not rise to the occasion, both sharing the bottom of the log after major losses.
Division 2 Results: 27 April 2023 – 1 May 2023
27 APRIL 2023
Diamonds | 52 – 39 | Lilies, Player of the Match: Ninelle Jordaan (Diamonds – GS)
Queens | 42 – 38 | Sonoblomo, Player of the Match: Thulisile Nhleko (Queens – GS)
Sunbirds | 32 – 32 | Comets, Player of the Match: Britney van der Merwe (Comets – GD)
28 APRIL 2023
Tornados | 48 – 47 | Baobabs, Player of the Match: Cornelia Mupenda (Baobabs – GK / GD)
Sonoblomo | 27 – 42 | Comets, Player of the Match: Kelly du Toit (Comets – GD)
29 APRIL 2023
Comets | 40 – 53 | Tornados, Player of the Match: Amber Coraizin (Tornados – C/WD)
Queens | 32 – 45 | Diamonds, Player of the Match: Andiswa Dlamini (Diamonds – GA)
Baobabs | 70 – 35 | Sonoblomo, Player of the Match: Marichelle Visagie (Baobabs – GA)
30 APRIL 2023
Sunbirds | 49 – 34 | Queens, Player of the Match: Palesa Mbukwana (Sunbirds – GK)
Diamonds | 41 – 38 | Comets, Player of the Match: Bethenie du Raan (Diamonds – GK)
Tornados | 52 – 27 | Lilies, Player of the Match: Adri Carstens (Tornados – C/WA)
1 MAY 2023
Baobabs | 65 – 37 | Queens, Player of the Match: Modjadji Ramorwalo (Baobabs – GD/GK)
Lilies | 25 – 61 | Sunbirds, Player of the Match: Atacia Mbuyane (Sunbirds – GA)
Division 2 Log Standings On 1 May 2023
| Team | Played | Win | Loss | Draw | GF | GA | GD | Avg. | Points | |
| 1 | Tornados | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 114 | 39 | 1,342 | 6 |
| 2 | Diamonds | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 109 | 29 | 1,266 | 6 |
| 3 | Sunbirds | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 142 | 91 | 51 | 1,517 | 5 |
| 4 | Baobabs | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 182 | 120 | 62 | 1,517 | 4 |
| 5 | Comets | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 152 | 153 | -1 | 0,993 | 3 |
| 6 | Queens | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 145 | 197 | -52 | 0,736 | 2 |
| 7 | Sonoblomo | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 154 | -54 | 0,736 | 0 |
| 8 | Lilies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 91 | 165 | -74 | 0,552 | 0 |
