The Spar Proteas staged a magnificent second-half comeback but fell just short against England in the first Test of theย Vitality Netball series.
A tight first quarter finished with England leading 16-11, but the Roses shifted gears in the second quarter, leading 30-22 after 30 minutes.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ
๐ญ๐๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ฆKeep pushing, keep believing! ๐ช#SPARProteas
๐ธ Morgan Harlow pic.twitter.com/m3pUIOOjSE
โ Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) December 5, 2023
The Proteas fought back to win the third quarter 14-13 and the fourth quarter 15-11, but England’s exploits in the first half proved too much for the South Africans as the Roses finished 54-51 victors.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ
๐ญ๐๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐๐ฟ๐ฆKeep pushing, keep believing! ๐ช#SPARProteas
๐ธ Morgan Harlow pic.twitter.com/m3pUIOOjSE
โ Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) December 5, 2023
Score breakdown:
Q1 โ Roses 16 โ 11 Proteas
Q2 โ Roses 30 โ 22 Proteas
Q3 โ Roses 43 โ 36 Proteas
Q4 โ Roses 54 โ 51 Proteas
Proteas starting VII:
Ine Mari Venter โ GS
Nichole Taljaard โ GA
Bongiwe Msomi โ WA
Khanyisa Chawane โ C
Karla Pretorius โ GD
Jeante Strydom โ WD
Phumza Maweni โ GK
Photo Credit: Morgan Harlow
Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images