Cape Town flip the script to snatch Netball Championships title in final thriller
A year after losing the final by one goal, Cape Town turned heartbreak into triumph by edging unbeaten Tshwane 56-55 in another dramatic decider.
Cape Town transformed their 2025 heartbreak into victory, snatching the Spar National Netball Championships title in a thrilling final against unbeaten Tshwane. The match, played at Stellenberg High School, mirrored last year's close contest, with Cape Town losing by a single goal after an unbroken run to the final. Tshwane, however, arrived as the unbeaten senior A-division champions, having previously toppled defending leaders Johannesburg in the semi-final.
The hosts led 13-12 after the opening quarter, but Tshwane surged ahead by half-time. Cape Town fought back to level at 38-all before taking a narrow 40-39 lead into the final 15 minutes. Neither team could secure a decisive advantage, leaving Tshwane with the lead at 55-55 with under 20 seconds remaining.
Former Protea Sigi Burger stepped up, calmly sinking the decisive goal as time ticked away, securing Cape Town's dramatic triumph. Former Protea shooter Sigi Burger calmly sank the decisive goal to send the home crowd into celebration. Head coach Freda Kemp, who last year's narrow defeat had spurred their quest for redemption, was proud of her team's performance.
Assistant coach Phumza Maweni commended her players for handling the pressure. For Tshwane, the loss marked a bitter end to a remarkable unbeaten campaign, with coach Rozanne Matthyse taking pride in her young, talented squad. In other action, Mangaung claimed the senior A-division bronze medal, while Johannesburg's Under-21 side secured a third consecutive title by defeating Tshwane 52-38 in the final.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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