Netball league shambles

Wesley Bo

Con Port Elizabeth

onfusion continued to reign at Lotto Young Park yesterday, with Netball South Africa unable to clarify a messy situation with the standings at the Spar National Championships.

While the Tshwane and Dr Kenneth Kaunda district teams opened a small gap at the top of the A-division table midway through the fourth day of competition, it remained unclear how many other sides were in contention for this weekend’s final.

With Sarah Baartman’s side from the Eastern Cape failing to turn up for three matches over a two-day period, organisers had not yet decided whether to postpone the games or force the absent side to forfeit the points.

Tshwane and the Dr KK side from North West held 16 points each at the top of the table ahead of last night’s round of fixtures, while Mangaung were lying third with 12 points.

Cape Winelands held 10 points, but it was uncertain whether Cape Town also had 10 points or if they were further back with eight.

Regardless of the sloppy approach by officials, there were a handful of teams who were still in the hunt for places in the trophy decider, with organisers having opted for a straight final after adjusting the format of the tournament due to the absence of two other A-division teams at the start of the event earlier in the week.

With her squad staying in contention in tough, windy conditions, Mangaung coach Berta de Kock said the tight contest at the top of the standings bodes well for the sport at national level.

“It’s very good for South African netball because you can’t be complacent. You win one, and then all of a sudden the next one is a loss,” De Kock said.