The Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 continued with the Northern Cape Diamonds outlasting the Mpumalanga Sunbirds 55-50 in a scintillating Division 2 contest at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Monday, 25 May 2026.
The Sunbirds were efficient from the outset, but the Diamonds settled midway through the opening quarter, and goals from goal shooter Colene Dercksen and a two-pointer from goal attack Brenscha Badenhorst nudged them ahead before a late surge sealed the win.
The Diamonds led 26-25 at the break, and a pivotal turnover from goal defence Keletso Gontho early in the third quarter helped them open a buffer. A run of unanswered goals in the final quarter stretched the advantage to six, and although the Super Shot exchanges remained even, the Mpumalanga side could not haul themselves back.
In the day’s other Division 2 fixtures, the Limpopo Baobabs produced one of the performances of Power Week 2, overwhelming Free State Sonoblomo 67-34. Fatigue appeared to tell on Sonoblomo, who were playing their third match in twenty-four hours, and the Baobabs led by thirteen at halftime. Goal attack Rochelle Maree was again the standout, converting four two-pointers during the third-quarter Super Shot period as her side surged towards a comfortable victory.
The Western Cape Tornados, meanwhile, maintained their unbeaten record with a convincing 65-41 win over the Kingdom Queens. The Tornados produced a dominant opening quarter, opening a 19-12 lead through relentless defensive pressure and recording sixteen gains to the Queens’ eleven by halftime.
The Queens showed resilience, with goal attack Thobekile Mjaja orchestrating play and converting two-pointers during the Super Shot, but Tornados goal attack Rochelle Rossouw answered in kind to keep the unbeaten side firmly in control.
“We had a checklist, we had to tick a few boxes especially on attack. Our ball speed, placement, our lines and I think we worked really well to achieve that, so we can move on to the next thing. Defensively, we put a lot of pressure, but we’ve been focusing on the process rather than the end result.”
Western Cape Tornados Coach, Lucy Twani
The Comets and the Limpopo Lilies served up the day’s most dramatic Division 2 finish, the Eastern Cape Comets fighting back from three quarters down to salvage a 42-42 draw. The Lilies led 13-7 after a clinical opening quarter, with shooting pair Josephine Mamabolo and Kgaugelo Ramafalo splitting the defenders to go six clear at halftime.
A bold positional switch, moving Lindokuhle Modise from goal defence to goal shooter, proved the turning point, and a steal by Lilitha Mosina put the Comets ahead for the first time in the final quarter. Modise was named Player of the Match after nineteen goals from twenty attempts in an influential comeback.
Attention turned to Division 1, where the Eastern Cape Aloes claimed a memorable scalp, stunning the North West Flames 52-46. It was the Aloes’ second win of the campaign, and goal shooter Zandré Smit was the architect, named Player of the Match after twenty-nine goals from thirty-five attempts, including sixteen Super Shot points.
The day closed with the Gauteng derby, and it was the Golden Fireballs who claimed bragging rights over the Gauteng Jaguars with a commanding 44-26 victory. The Jaguars struck first, but the Fireballs’ defensive duo of goalkeeper Amara Agbai and Cornelia Mupenda quickly took control, Mupenda’s intercepts and rebounds helping the side to a 13-4 first-quarter lead.
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The Jaguars rotated their shooters, with Anja Visser and Jamie Williamson both given time at goal shooter, but could not stem the tide as the Fireballs led 26-10 at halftime and never relinquished command.
The headline act remained the Free State Crinums, who extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a 61-50 win over the visiting Zambezi Eagles. The Zimbabwean side, whose matches do not count towards the standings, again impressed with a spirited display and continue to gain valuable exposure in the league.
The Crinums, for their part, kept their perfect run intact ahead of a crucial encounter with the Southern Stings on Tuesday. With the Crinums still flawless, the Tornados unbeaten and the Aloes finally finding their feet, Power Week 2 is building towards a compelling final stretch at Ellis Park.
Day 4 Results for Power Week 2 of the Telkom Netball League at Ellis Park Arena on Monday, 25 May 2026
D1 Zambezi Eagles 50-61 Free State Crinums
D2 Limpopo Baobabs 67-34 Free State Sonoblomo
D2 Northern Cape Diamonds 55-50 Mpumalanga Sunbirds
D2 Kingdom Queens 41-65 Western Cape Tornados
D1 North West Flames 46-52 Eastern Cape Aloes
D2 Limpopo Lilies 42-42 Eastern Cape Comets
D1 Golden Fireballs 44-26 Gauteng Jaguars
Day 5 Fixtures on Tuesday, 26 May 2026
07h00 D2 Free State Sonoblomo v Kingdom Queens
09h00 D2 Eastern Cape Comets v North West Tshukudu
11h00 D1 Eastern Cape Aloes v Gauteng Jaguars
13h00 D1 North West Flames v Zambezi Eagles
15h00 D1 Kingdom Stars v Golden Fireballs
17h00 D2 Western Cape Tornados v Limpopo Baobabs
19h00 D1 Southern Stings v Free State Crinums
Original Copy: Kgotla PR for Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Free State Crinums extended their unbeaten 2026 record with a 61-50 victory over the visiting Zambezi Eagles, keeping the Division 1 pacesetters flawless heading into a crucial clash with the Southern Stings, as the Telkom Netball League Power Week 2 continued at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg on Monday, 25 May 2026. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: The Golden Fireballs claimed Gauteng derby bragging rights with a commanding 44-26 win over the Gauteng Jaguars in Division 1.
Photo 3 Caption: The Eastern Cape Aloes produced a stunning upset, overcoming the North West Flames 52-46 for only their second win of the campaign.
Photo 4 Caption: The Western Cape Tornados kept their unbeaten Division 2 record intact with a convincing 65-41 victory over the Kingdom Queens.
Photo 5 Caption: The Eastern Cape Comets fought back from three quarters down to snatch a dramatic 42-42 draw with the Limpopo Lilies in Division 2.
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