Tornados and Queens Win as Baobabs and Sunbirds Share the Spoils on TNL Power Week 2 Opening Day
The Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 got underway at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Friday, 22 May 2026, with the Limpopo Baobabs locking horns with the Mpumalanga Sunbirds. It marked the first meeting between the two sides in this year’s competition, with only two points separating them on the Division 2 standings.
Both teams were riddled with unforced errors in the opening quarter, but the Sunbirds shifted gears defensively to establish a five-goal advantage before the first Telkom Super Shot period. Baobabs goal shooter Juanike Steinmann and goal attack Rochelle Maree responded emphatically, converting two-pointers apiece to reduce the deficit, as Limpopo trailed narrowly 11-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The Baobabs were then plagued by a plethora of missed opportunities in the second quarter, allowing the Mpumalanga outfit to stretch their lead to five goals ahead of the second Telkom Super Shot. However, the Baobabs once again dominated the long-range scoring phase to redeem themselves, heading into half time just two goals adrift.
The Sunbirds introduced three changes after the break but that did little to deter the resilient Limpopo side, who persisted with their starting seven and managed to level matters midway through the third quarter. The contest soon evolved into a ferocious defensive battle, with the Sunbirds holding onto a slender 38-37 lead at the end of the championship quarter.
Baobabs coach Emily Mathosa remained steadfast in her faith in the starting line-up, opting against any substitutions four quarters in. A combination of fatigue and wayward ball placement ultimately proved costly for the Limpopo side, as the Sunbirds capitalised on turnovers to open a four-goal cushion. Mathosa then called for a strategic stoppage, yet still resisted making changes, a decision that seemingly paid dividends as the encounter transformed into a gritty spectacle.
With just two minutes remaining, the Baobabs had trimmed the deficit to a single goal, while Maree continued to flourish from long-range shots to help her side draw level. In the end, neither side could be separated as the pulsating encounter ended in a thrilling 48-48 stalemate.
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The second game of the day saw the Kingdom Queens face another Limpopo outfit, the Lilies. The Queens’ defensive structures were a standout feature in this encounter, as they led at the end of every quarter. The Lilies found themselves seven goals behind at the close of the third quarter and had made eight changes in an attempt to claw their way back into the game. The Lilies’ shooting accuracy improved in the final quarter, winning it 10-9, but their resurgence came a little too late as they succumbed to a 45-51 defeat against the KZN side.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Tornados maintained their unbeaten run against Tshukudu after walking away with a 49-42 victory. Despite a sluggish start to the encounter, where they trailed by four goals in the opening quarter, they increased their work rate and were one goal behind at the end of the first stanza.
The Cape Town based team then proceeded to dominate the remainder of the match, despite only making one change in the shooting circle, introducing Rehana Noah at goal shooter in place of Liandré Kriel. The tactical adjustment proved effective, as Nolusindo Twani’s side protected their cushion to win the match by seven goals.
“The first one is shakey, also we have two new girls in our squad, so a slow start, but I’m glad the girls pulled it through in the end.”
Western Cape Tornados Assistant Coach, Sasha-Lee Petersen
“I don’t think today’s game showed what we are working on, but we are reminding the girls the things they have to work on from Power Week one to two, so hopefully in the few games to come we can show what we have been working on,” said Petersen.
The Gauteng Jaguars’ big-match temperament came to the fore in a hard-fought 41-35 victory over the Kingdom Stars. The first quarter was largely an intercept contest, ending level at eleven all, before Stars goal shooter Nomfundo Mngomezulu handed the KZN side an early second-quarter lead.
The Jaguars reshuffled, moving Luane Smith to goal attack and introducing Jamie Williamson at goal shooter, and edged ahead by half time. Zane Bodenstein denied the Stars a two-pointer on three consecutive attempts during the final Telkom Super Shot, before Luca Keun sealed the win with a superb two-pointer to earn the Player of the Match accolade.
“It was a better start for us, we still lose it in the middle of every quarter but that’s something we’ll need to look at. The positive from this game is just the fight, they never back down.”
Gauteng Jaguars Coach, Rozanne Matthyse
The Golden Fireballs were made to work hard for their 56-47 victory over the Zambezi Eagles, leading 41-36 heading into the final quarter before pulling clear. The Southern Stings overpowered the Eastern Cape Aloes 77-49, condemning the Aloes to a sixth defeat, while Sonoblomo avenged an earlier loss to the Northern Cape Diamonds with a 53-37 triumph, Zeluleko Ntombela named Player of the Match.
Day 1 Results for Power Week 2 of the Telkom Netball League at Ellis Park Arena on Friday, 22 May 2026
D2 Limpopo Baobabs 48-48 Mpumalanga Sunbirds
D2 Kingdom Queens 51-45 Limpopo Lilies
D2 Western Cape Tornados 49-42 North West Tshukudu
D2 Northern Cape Diamonds 37-53 Free State Sonoblomo
D1 Gauteng Jaguars 41-35 Kingdom Stars
D1 Golden Fireballs 56-47 Zambezi Eagles
D1 Eastern Cape Aloes 49-77 Southern Stings
Day 2 Fixtures on Saturday, 23 May 2026
07h00 D2 Eastern Cape Comets v Limpopo Baobabs
09h00 D2 Northern Cape Diamonds v North West Tshukudu
11h00 D2 Limpopo Lilies v Western Cape Tornados
13h00 D1 Eastern Cape Aloes v Kingdom Stars
15h00 D1 North West Flames v Golden Fireballs
17h00 D2 Free State Sonoblomo v Mpumalanga Sunbirds
19h00 D1 Gauteng Jaguars v Free State Crinums
Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 burst into life with the Western Cape Tornados staying unbeaten, the Limpopo Baobabs and Mpumalanga Sunbirds sharing the spoils in a nail-biting 48-48 draw, and the Gauteng Jaguars edging the Kingdom Stars thanks to Luca Keun. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: The Southern Stings produced a commanding 77-49 win against the Eastern Cape Aloes on the opening day at Ellis Park Arena.
Photo 3 Caption: The Limpopo Baobabs and Mpumalanga Sunbirds shared the spoils in a tense Division 2 contest that ended in a 48-48 deadlock.
Photo 4 Caption: The Golden Fireballs dug deep to grind out a 56-47 victory over Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Eagles in a hard-fought, physical battle.
Photo 5 Caption: Free State Sonoblomo avenged an earlier loss by defeating the Northern Cape Diamonds 53-37 as Power Week 2 continued in Johannesburg.
Crédito: Link de origem