Unconvincing Jungle Queens Beat Hawks

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Monday June 17, 2013 00:00

 

The star-studded Queens failed to justify their big signings in the transfer market that saw them bolster their squad with four seasoned players.

Their opponents, Hawks were making a return to the netball league after a forced year-long sabbatical due to inadequate finances. Even then, Queens struggled against the lightweights with dreary displays in the first two quarters.

They gave their relatively young opponents space in the first two quarters, allowing play to swing from one end to end. In the third quarter, Queens' coach made a tactical switch, moving new signing Amogelang Ngwako from centre to WD. Queens then applied the zonal defence method to thwart their opponents from coming into their third.

In attack, Queens' GA, Patricia Ollyn would often play the ball back to the ingenious WA Natasha Maribe to position herself well to bag goals. It worked quite well as they dominated that quarter and killed the game as a contest.

Queens then put up a stellar performance in the last quarter after ringing changes by pulling out Lilian Rangkwe, shifting former Prisons utility player, Maribe, to GS and Ngwako to centre. Thereafter, they exchanged long passes going forward and opened up Hawks' weak defence.

Queens' coach, Delroy Nkomazana said the win was not convincing at all.

'I expected more than this but we did not play according to our plan, the results are there but they are not convincing. If we had played all games scheduled for today, Notwane was going to walk over us,' Nkomazana said. His opposite number, Lorato Thebekgosi praised her young charges for putting up a good fight.

'These are youngsters with the average age being 20, most of them are first timers in the league. I think they will do well as the league progresses,' Thebekgosi said. Their GA Obakeng Phalaagae, WA Tanga Modimakwane and GA Nancy Monyake were all making their debuts.

In another league match played on Saturday, Flying Doves humiliated PUBS 64-9. At half time, Doves were leading 39-3 before extending the lead to 55-6 at the end of the third quarter of a one-sided game. PUBS struggled to make regular forays into their opponents' final third.

They were duly punished for sitting back as they back-pedalled throughout the game. Meanwhile, the defending champions, BDF Cats were inactive as seven of their players had travelled to South Africa with the national team, preparing for the Africa Championships in Lilongwe, Malawi. The team leaves for Lilongwe on Wednesday.