TNL Hots Up as the Fireballs Tame the Stings and the Jaguars Singe the Flames
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TNL Hots Up as the Fireballs Tame the Stings and the Jaguars Singe the Flames

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The Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 reached its penultimate day with Free State Sonoblomo overpowering the Limpopo Lilies 70-36 in a one-sided Division 2 contest at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Thursday, 28 May 2026. Sonoblomo wing attack Marianne Louw was again the architect, claiming a second Player of the Match award of the season.

The Western Cape Tornados returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 54-51 victory over the Northern Cape Diamonds, a result that steadied the Tornados after their shock defeat to the Mpumalanga Sunbirds the previous evening. Goal defence Asemahle Dyidi was the standout in defence and was named Player of the Match.

The Limpopo Baobabs continued their strong Power Week with a 54-43 win over the Kingdom Queens, the Baobabs running their record forward as goal attack Rochelle Maree once again proved the difference. Maree claimed a fifth Player of the Match award of the season, an extraordinary run of individual form that has been one of the storylines of Power Week 2.

The Mpumalanga Sunbirds backed up their breakthrough win over the Tornados with a second successive Division 2 victory, beating North West Tshukudu 54-42. The Sunbirds took a 17-10 first-quarter lead and never relinquished control, despite a more competitive second quarter that ended 10-10. Goalkeeper Siphokazi Madonsela earned the Player of the Match award as her side cemented a turnaround week.

The Free State Crinums extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a commanding 67-39 victory over the Eastern Cape Aloes.
The Free State Crinums extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a commanding 67-39 victory over the Eastern Cape Aloes.
The Limpopo Baobabs continued their strong form with a convincing 54-43 victory over the Kingdom Queens in Division 2.
The Limpopo Baobabs continued their strong form with a convincing 54-43 victory over the Kingdom Queens in Division 2.

In Division 1, the Free State Crinums extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a commanding 67-39 victory over the Eastern Cape Aloes, a fourth-quarter onslaught underscoring the gap between the log leaders and the chasing pack. Captain Refiloe Nketsa led the side superbly and was named Player of the Match.

The Gauteng Jaguars held their nerve to walk away with a one-goal victory over the North West Flames, winning 46-45 in a contest that swung on fine margins. The Jaguars roared to life through defensive hustle to open a five-goal lead before the first Telkom Supershot, goal-shooter Luane Smith striking the first two-pointer for her side. Flames goal attack Sunel Smit kept her side in the contest with two further Supershot two-pointers to cut the deficit to one at halftime.

Flames goalkeeper Vivian Venancio opened the third quarter with a crucial intercept that helped level matters, but the Jaguars quickly regained control as centre Caroline Paul came up with an intercept of her own to give her side a two-goal lead. The Jaguars stretched their advantage to seven, and although the Flames clawed back to within two before the final Supershot through another Smit two-pointer, Jaguars wing defence Phophi Nematangari won a critical turnover in the final seconds to seal the win. Paul was named Player of the Match.

The night closed with the marquee Division 1 clash between the Golden Fireballs and the Southern Stings. The contest lived up to expectations from the first whistle, both sides matching each other in a highly competitive opening quarter. Fireballs goalkeeper Jeanté Strydom forced an important turnover inside the Stings’ shooting circle to open a two-goal lead, and although the Stings reduced the deficit to one before the first Supershot, Fireballs goal attack Nonsikelelo Mazibuko converted a two-pointer before Stings goal attack Nicole Breedt answered with her own. 

Fireballs goal shooter Tinita van Dyk then sank a single shot to give her side a three-goal lead.

The Mpumalanga Sunbirds claimed back-to-back wins by beating Tshukudu 54-42 in another impressive Division 2 display.
The Mpumalanga Sunbirds claimed back-to-back wins by beating Tshukudu 54-42 in another impressive Division 2 display.
The Gauteng Jaguars held their nerve in a Division 1 thriller, edging the Flames 46-45 by a single goal in the closing seconds.
The Gauteng Jaguars held their nerve in a Division 1 thriller, edging the Flames 46-45 by a single goal in the closing seconds.

The Fireballs capitalised fully during the second-quarter Supershot, Mazibuko slotting two two-pointers and van Dyk adding another to lead 35-26 at halftime. The third quarter remained tightly contested, both teams scoring fourteen goals apiece. Coach Dr Freda Kemp introduced Simone Dry at goal shooter in the final quarter to try to claw the Stings back, but the Fireballs had done enough, eventually securing a 62-47 victory. Mazibuko was named Player of the Match after four two-pointers across the Supershot periods.

Fireballs head coach Dr Elsje Jordaan said her side had room to grow but had taken a step forward. “I thought we were too far in our defence. We gave Nicole [Breedt] a lot of space and she did a lot of play creation for us. So on defence we were slightly too far and then we created a lot of turnover balls which we didn’t convert and a lot of up and down play happened which is draining. So we need to be more clinical on that. But in front I thought Ntsiki [Mazibuko] was really good and she played a really intelligent game tonight and the way she was shooting was just awesome.

“I’m happy with the attack. I think the patience is coming and it’s showing in the scores that we’re starting to build.”

Golden Fireballs Head Coach, Dr Elsje Jordaan

Jordaan was already turning to the playoff stretch ahead. “It’s another two games where we can build, it’s another two games that we can sort out and get the combinations to settle, get the units to work well, to play the percentages that we want to get to, because we’re still not where we want to be. So we have to use these two games really well and then come play-offs that we can make sure that we’re ready.”

Stings head coach Dr Freda Kemp pinpointed the Telkom Supershot as the difference between the sides. “We came out here to give it everything we’ve got and I think we had some brilliant moments. I just think those two-point shots of the Fireballs were absolutely on fire today and that killed us. We couldn’t catch up.”

“I think they can be proud of the performance they’ve put up. We never gave up. We never dropped our shoulders, and we kept on fighting right till the end. We did turn ball.”

Southern Stings Head Coach, Dr Freda Kemp

Kemp was proud of her players’ fight even in defeat. “Unfortunately, our shots didn’t go through, the two-pointers. That was the difference for me today.” She set the bar for the closing fixture. “Next game is a must-win for us.”

With the Crinums still flawless at the top of Division 1, the Golden Fireballs strengthening their playoff hand, and the Western Cape Tornados back to winning ways in Division 2, Power Week 2 moves into its final day at Ellis Park with the playoff picture coming sharply into focus.

Day 7 Results for Power Week 2 of the Telkom Netball League at Ellis Park Arena on Thursday, 28 May 2026

D2 Limpopo Baobabs 54-43 Kingdom Queens
D2 Western Cape Tornados 54-51 Northern Cape Diamonds
D2 Free State Sonoblomo 70-36 Limpopo Lilies
D1 Eastern Cape Aloes 39-67 Free State Crinums
D1 North West Flames 45-46 Gauteng Jaguars
D2 Mpumalanga Sunbirds 54-42 North West Tshukudu
D1 Golden Fireballs 62-47 Southern Stings

Day 8 Fixtures on Friday, 29 May 2026

07h00 D2 Western Cape Tornados v Eastern Cape Comets
09h00 D2 North West Tshukudu v Limpopo Lilies
11h00 D2 Northern Cape Diamonds v Limpopo Baobabs
13h00 D1 Zambezi Eagles v Gauteng Jaguars
15h00 D1 Golden Fireballs v Eastern Cape Aloes
17h00 D1 Kingdom Stars v North West Flames
19h00 D2 Kingdom Queens v Eastern Cape Comets

Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: The Golden Fireballs claimed the day’s marquee Division 1 win, beating the Southern Stings 62-47 in a contest decided by clinical Telkom Supershot conversion, as the Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 continued at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Thursday, 28 May 2026. All Photos: Netball SA

Photo 2 Caption: The Free State Crinums extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a commanding 67-39 victory over the Eastern Cape Aloes.

Photo 3 Caption: The Limpopo Baobabs continued their strong form with a convincing 54-43 victory over the Kingdom Queens in Division 2.

Photo 4 Caption: The Mpumalanga Sunbirds claimed back-to-back wins by beating Tshukudu 54-42 in another impressive Division 2 display.

Photo 5 Caption: The Gauteng Jaguars held their nerve in a Division 1 thriller, edging the Flames 46-45 by a single goal in the closing seconds.

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