After three victories, the SPAR Baby Proteas were sent crashing down to earth by Australia at the Netball World Youth Cup on Wednesday, going down 65-38 in Gaborone, Botswana.
The South African Under-21 side started off reasonably well and were holding their own at the start, but the Australians began to exert pressure early on and by the end of the first quarter were 18-11 ahead.
In the second quarter, the Baby Proteas fell apart, conceding 21 goals and scoring just eight. The team from Down Under appeared to have all the time in the world, while the South Africans seemed to be rushed and making too many unforced errors.
Goalshooters Danelle Lochner and Talja Venter appeared to have lost their nerve, and lost the ball while trying to get into better shooting positions.
After the break, the Baby Proteas managed to stem the flow of goals to a certain extent, restricting the Australians to 14 goals in the third quarter and 12 in the fourth. But they managed to score only nine and eight themselves.
Although the Baby Proteas turned over a number of balls, they often lost possession again, while the Australians used their turnovers to good effect.
Coach Dorette Badenhorst was disappointed with the outcome of the match. ‘We started off quite well, but we had a horrible second quarter and we weren’t able to get back into the game, ‘ she said. ‘You can’t win if you lose possession and if you don’t get the ball into the net.’
South Africa finished second in their group and will play another netball powerhouse, New Zealand, for a place in the semi-finals on Thursday.
‘We will have to go back to basics as we prepare to take on New Zealand,’ said Badenhorst. ‘The players have to take responsibility on the court, and have to stick to the game plans, which they didn’t do today.’
Added team manager Dumisani Chauke, who also performed managerial duties for SA at last year’s AUSC Region 5 Games in Luanda, Angola: ‘The game didn’t go as planned. We did not stick to our game plan.
‘The girls gave up too quickly. We couldn’t convert all our centre’s passes and the Australians were clinical, and capitalised on our mistakes.
‘But we have gone back to the drawing board and are prepared for the challenge that new Zealand will bring to that court today. We have faith in our girls that they will go out there with heads held high and represent Mzansi well.’
If the Baby Proteas lose to New Zealand, they will play off for fifth to eighth position. They also came fifth at the last Youth World Cup.
In the picture, South Africa’s Khanyisa Chawan and Jamie-Lee Price of Australia battle for possession. Picture courtesy of Reg Caldecott