North West Flames Surge Past Eastern Cape Aloes to Claim Fifth in TNL Division 1
The Telkom Netball League final Power Week opened with three positional play-offs as the North West Flames, North West Tshukudu and Mpumalanga Sunbirds all claimed wins to settle places in the Division 1 and Division 2 standings at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Friday, 12 June 2026.
The North West Flames and the Eastern Cape Aloes faced off in the Division 1 play-off for fifth and sixth position, both sides looking to close their campaign on a high. Both teams adopted a measured approach in the first quarter, but the difference lay in the shooting accuracy as the Aloes proved more clinical and stretched their lead to five goals at the end of the opening quarter.
The Aloes maintained their momentum and preserved their five-goal lead through the first five minutes of the second quarter. The defensive combination of goal defence Noluthando Maliehe and goalkeeper Juanita van Tonder came to the fore, forcing two consecutive turnovers inside the Flames shooting circle to extend the lead to seven goals.
The Flames had a chance to respond, but an intercept by their goal defence Christi-Mari Coetzee went unrewarded after goal attack Sunel Smit lost her footing. Miscommunication in the Flames shooting circle between Sunel Smit and goal shooter Lubisi Kwezi further disrupted their attacking flow, prompting tactical changes that saw Sunel Smit move to goal shooter and Andrya Joubert return at goal attack.
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The adjustments injected fresh energy into the Flames attack, and the changes began to yield results. The Flames gradually chipped away at the deficit and produced an impressive comeback to trail by just one goal at half-time.
The third quarter became a defensive masterclass, particularly from the Aloes pairing of Maliehe and Van Tonder. Working in tandem, they disrupted the Flames attacking rhythm with turnovers. Two more consecutive intercepts from Van Tonder, with an important pick-up from Maliehe, kept up the pressure.
Despite their defensive brilliance, the Aloes could not fully capitalise. The Flames defenders worked tirelessly to contain Aloes shooter Zandre Smit, who is often instrumental in converting, especially during the Supershot period. The Flames resilience paid off at the other end, and a successful single shot saw them edge ahead 32-31 heading into the final quarter.
The North West side was unstoppable in the fourth quarter, their defensive prowess forcing the Aloes to keep recycling the ball as they tried to work it inside the shooting circle. The multiple passes allowed the Flames to thrive on turnovers, which Sunel Smit converted with ease to steer the side to an emphatic 51-37 victory and fifth position in Division 1.
In Division 2, the North West Tshukudu held their nerve in a dramatic finish to edge the Northern Cape Diamonds 41-40 and claim fifth place after an enthralling contest. Tshukudu came flying out of the blocks, leading by five goals inside the opening two minutes as the Diamonds struggled to find their rhythm. It took the Diamonds three minutes to register their first goal, with unforced errors and turnovers disrupting their flow. Midway through the first quarter the Diamonds began to settle, and improved ball security and stronger defensive efforts allowed them to reduce the margin to two goals. Despite the Diamonds resurgence, Tshukudu held a 13-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter developed into a fascinating contest, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. Momentum shifted repeatedly as both teams traded goals and slender leads. The Diamonds briefly edged in front before Tshukudu responded, setting up a tense finish to the half. With both teams matching each other stride for stride, the score was locked at 23-23 at half-time.
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The second half remained delicately poised, especially in the closing fifteen minutes. The scores were level at 34-34 with ten minutes to play before Tshukudu produced three unanswered goals to establish a crucial lead. The Diamonds refused to back down, and wing defence Debora Kitenge stepped up with an intercept that helped restore parity. From there the encounter became a gripping back-and-forth affair, with both sides battling for possession.
Locked at 40-40 heading into the decisive Supershot period, defensive pressure intensified as intercepts proved pivotal at both ends. In the end, Tshukudu held their composure, sank a single shot and played the ball around until the final whistle to secure a narrow one-goal win.
The Mpumalanga Sunbirds and the Eastern Cape Comets met in the Division 2 play-off for seventh and eighth position. The opening quarter began evenly, with the Sunbirds edging ahead 4-3 after the first five minutes. The Comets had a chance to equalise after centre Edon Snyman produced an intercept, but the shooters failed to convert.
Goal attack Bronwyn Goosenappeared hesitant to release her shots, allowing the Sunbirds to build a four-goal cushion. Comets coach Prisca Kanetsi-Makamole introduced Bianca Blom at goal shooter, and the change proved effective as the Eastern Cape side reduced the deficit to two goals with three minutes left in the quarter. The Sunbirds held a narrow 10-9 lead heading into the Supershot period, but Blom shifted the momentum dramatically, sinking two two-pointers to propel the Comets into a 15-10 lead at the first break.
The second quarter remained fiercely contested, with both sides regaining possession after unforced errors. The Sunbirds trailed by only two goals before the second Supershot window, but Blom again delivered under pressure, converting two more long-range efforts to hand the Comets a slender 26-25 lead at half-time.
The Mpumalanga side found a way back in the third quarter, capitalising on a held ball call against the Comets to level the scores. With six minutes left in the quarter, only three goals separated the sides in favour of the Comets. Snyman, who had shifted to wing attack from centre, came up with another crucial intercept to help the Comets stretch the lead to four goals. Sunbirds goal attack Kelly-Ann Gouws kept her side firmly in contention, converting three two-pointers to close the gap to one goal ahead of the final quarter.
The Sunbirds carried the momentum into the closing stages, stepping up the intensity to establish a three-goal lead. With the Comets unsettled on attack and their shooters lacking confidence in front of goal, Kanetsi-Makamole called a strategic stoppage to regroup.
Despite the Comets attempts to recover, the Sunbirds continued to play with vigour, transitioned effectively through court and extended their lead to six goals. Although Blom added another two-pointer, it proved insufficient. The Sunbirds opted for the safer one-point opportunities to maintain control and eventually sealed a well-earned 55-49 victory.
The 2026 Telkom Netball League Power Week 3 Fixtures at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, from Friday, 12 June to Monday, 15 June 2026
Friday, 12 June 2026
D2 Play-off Position 7/8: Mpumalanga Sunbirds 55-49 Eastern Cape Comets
D2 Play-off Position 5/6: Northern Cape Diamonds 40-41 North West Tshukudu
D1 Play-off Position 5/6: North West Flames 51-37 Eastern Cape Aloes
Saturday, 13 June 2026
12h00 D2 Semi-Final 1: Western Cape Tornados vs. Free State Sonoblomo
14h00 D2 Semi-Final 2: Limpopo Baobabs vs. Kingdom Queens
16h00 D1 Semi-Final 1: Free State Crinums vs. Gauteng Jaguars
18h00 D1 Semi-Final 2: Golden Fireballs vs. Southern Stings
Sunday, 14 June 2026
13h00 D1 Play-off Position 3/4
15h00 D2 Play-off Position 3/4
18h00 Division 2 Final
19h30 Division 2 Medal Ceremony
Monday, 15 June 2026
15h30 Relegation Match: Kingdom Stars vs. Division 2 winner
18h00 Division 1 Final
19h30 Division 1 Medal Ceremony
Power Week 1 Wrap
Power Week 2 Wrap
Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The North West Flames produced an impressive comeback to overcome the Eastern Cape Aloes 51-37 and claim fifth place in Division 1 on the opening day of the Telkom Netball League final Power Week at Rembrandt Hall, University of Pretoria, on Friday, 12 June 2026. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: The North West Tshukudu edged the Northern Cape Diamonds 41-40 to claim fifth place in Division 2 of the Telkom Netball League.
Photo 3 Caption: The Mpumalanga Sunbirds held off the Eastern Cape Comets 55-49 to claim seventh place in Division 2 on the opening day in Pretoria.
Crédito: Link de origem