International Netball returned last week for the three-match SPAR Challenge Netball Test Series at Sun City, North West Province, South Africa, with the SPAR Proteas and Malawi Queens battling it out to become champions.
South Africa won the series after a clean sweep of the three-matches with a recording-breaking 41 goal win in the third and final test on Sunday 29th November.
SPAR Proteas coach, Dorette Badenhorst commented “We achieved more than we expected in this series. It is not often when you play African teams that you are able to play all 15 players in your squad. We met the targets that we set in each of the matches and I am very satisfied.”
Malawi coach, Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa said she was disappointed with the outcome of the series “but it has been a big wake-up call. We are grateful to have played some international netball but when we get home we know that we have to make sure the players don’t remain idle, but they keep fit for action. The lack of match fitness was a problem, and they were unable to take the momentum through to the later stages of the match.”
South Africa are currently ranked fifth in the world, with Malawi sixth.
Match Results
Sunday 29th November – SPAR Proteas 69 – 28 Malawi Queens
Friday 27th November – SPAR Proteas 62 – 29 Malawi Queens
Thursday 26th November – SPAR Proteas 65 – 25 Malawi Queens