Jaguars fight back to beat Flames

LAST year’s losing finalists, the Gauteng Jaguars, secured a crucial 63-51 victory over the North West Flames in Power Week 3 of the Telkom Netball League at the Durban ICC on Tuesday afternoon, as the battle for the semifinal places heated up.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The record six-times winners, who are coached by Rozanne Mathysse, came into the final week of SA's premier netball competition in fourth place, with the Flames one position above them. The win cemented their push for a playoff place but dented the chances of Elsunet du Plessis’ charges, who face a battle for the final playoff spot with the Southern Stings.

The Flames had the hotter start in a cagey first quarter where star Jaguars goal attack Kamogelo Maseko struggled to get going. Her usually telepathic link with goal shooter Ine-Mari Venter just wasn't there as the Flames closed out the quarter with a 14-12 lead.

The Jaguars were a different team at the beginning of the second stanza as they finally found their rhythm. They scored seven unanswered points as they sped up play noticeably, while goalkeeper Bodenstein was increasingly influential on the defensive end.