
Kingston – The SPAR Netball Proteas encountered a challenging loss to Jamaica, posting a score of 55-47 in the first Test of the three-match Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series held in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday. Nevertheless, national coach Jenny van Dyk remains hopeful.
“In our previous match against Jamaica, we faced an 18-point defeat – this time, it was just an eight-point difference. There’s a foundation to build on, and we’ll be better prepared for the upcoming match,” Van Dyk mentioned after the game.
The first quarter saw both teams trading goals in a fiercely competitive battle, which ended in a 12-all draw.
During the second quarter, South African goalkeeper Nicola Smith suffered a severe fall, resulting in her leaving the court due to an arm injury. Her replacement, Ane Retief, received a two-minute penalty for a foul (dangerous play).
The Sunshine Girls took full advantage of this situation, winning the quarter with a score of 16-11.
Jamaica continued to extend their lead in the third quarter, at one stage pushing their advantage to 10 points on two occasions.
Despite this, the SPAR Proteas made a strong comeback, reducing the deficit to seven goals, making the score 42-35.

In the final quarter, the Sunshine Girls pulled ahead, achieving a 12-point lead. Despite this, Captain Khanyisa Chawane’s team fought tenaciously until the end, with remarkable shooting from Elmere van den Bergh and the in-form goal attack Kamogelo Maseko guiding the SPAR Proteas to finish only eight goals behind.
“We had a plan in place, but we encountered some surprises in the second quarter,” explained Assistant Coach Zanele Mdodana.
“That became a pivotal moment for us, as all other quarters were closely fought. Losing Nicola altered the game’s momentum,” she added.
In an earlier match, the SPAR Baby Proteas excelled, achieving a decisive 61-31 victory against Jamaica Under-21.
The next match is set for Thursday, (2 January 2025 – 02h00 SA time), followed by the final test on Sunday, (26 January 2025 – 01h00 SA time).
All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 DStv Channel 209.