Diamonds survive Thunders scare
Last-quarter surge helped defending champions Diamonds to secure a 31-27 victory over rejuvenated Thunder Queens in a thrilling Rainbow Paints 25th Anniversary Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) encounter at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) on Saturday.
Thunder Queens started the game on a brighter note with some excellent passing, but their dodging appeared frail as their passes were intercepted by Diamonds’ tall and no-nonsense defenders Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira and Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda, who quickly sent the ball into the shooting circle for Jessica Mazengera-Sanudi and Grace Chazungulira to make some easy tap-ins.
It was no surprise, therefore, to see the first two quarters ending 10-4 and 18-11 in favour of Diamonds.
But after a good half time pep talk from their team manager Annie Kapatuka-Sanga, Thunder Queens realised they still had a fighting chance and they came into the third quarter with all guns blazing which brought the score to 22-22.
The Queens continued to dominate in the first few minutes of the last quarter where they scored three baskets without reply. With four minutes to go, it looked like Diamonds were going to be defeated by the Queens for the first time in seven years.
But fatigue and complacency seemed to have taken their toll on Queens’ youthful players towards the final whistle .
“We started badly as we frequently misplaced the passes. However, our tactical chances in the last quarter have saved us from shame,” said Diamonds assistant coach Noel Mussa.
The game, which was witnessed by Rainbow Paints’ regional commercial manager Kondwani Banda, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) vice-president Chimwemwe Kachingwe and general secretary Carol Bapu, was used to mark the official launch of the league.
Before the encounter, Complex Tigresses beat Alliance Capital Sisters 77-28 while Airwing Sisters and Chilomoni Sisters triumphed over Antonio Sisters 62-17 and Gerald Tasaukadala 42-34, respectively.
