South Africa’s netballers returned from ther three-Test series in the Caribbean and immediately got back to winning ways when they beat Uganda 70-45 in their opening Vitality Netball Nations Cup on Saturday.
In the other match, hosts England swept aside MAlawi to win 62-36.
South African goal shooter Elmeré van der Berg was near-flawless with her shooting in the opening quarter at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.
But it was overall hustle of the South Africans and the speed at which they pushed the ball up the court that was also impressive, as was the ability to shift the point of the attack.
SA led 19-13 at the end of the first quarter and were up 33-25 at half-time.
The Proteas took the game away from the Ugandans with a third-quarter blow-out, leading 46-29 at the end of the quarter.
Van der Berg had 33 goals at that stage, with the job all but done.
It was no surprise that there was a slight let-up in intensity in the final quarter from the South Africans considering their work-rate throughout.
They kept the scoreboard ticking over, however, with late contributions from replacement goal shooter Rolene Streutker.
Captain and wing attack KC Chawane was immense, as was tireless centre Refiloe Nketsa.
The South African defence kept Uganda’s star goal shooter Mary Cholhok relatively quiet in the defensive circle, the young Sanmarie Visser and goal defence Jamie van Wyk making sure there were no freebies.
Goal attack Kamogelo Maseko’s movement was a nightmare for the She Cranes to deal with, as it was for the Jamaicans in the recent series, which the Sunshine Girls won 3-0.
Her linking with Van der Berg seemed almost telepathic at times as she found the tall goal shooter at will in a display that saw her voted as the Player of the Match.
“I think we understand each other. We know what to expect from each other,” she said of their relationship in the post-match interview.
“And it’s just a connection that we don’t even need to talk about, it just happens. It’s a natural chemistry.”
Proteas head coach Jenny van Dyk was understandably all smiles after the match.
“What a great start. I think we spent so much time understanding what Uganda are about and how they do things, and the girls have just responded so well today,” she said.