#TuksNetball: Jaguars again victorious against the Crinums

Posted on October 21, 2020

The Jaguars continued their winning streak this afternoon in Bloemfontein beating the Crinums 36-31 in the Telkom Netball League. 

The team has now won six of its seven games to top the log standings. Western Province's Stings has the distinction of being the only team not to have lost against the Jaguars. They played to a 35-all draw. 

Audi's manufactures famously claim to be ahead through their technology. Pretty much the same goes for the Jaguars. In the build-up to the tournament Tuks's head coach, Jenny van Dyk, also left absolute nothing to chance. For her, it will always be about marginal gains.

A question that springs to mind is how long the Jaguars can keep this up. Simplified Newton's law boils down to what comes up must come down. In sport, it means no team can go on winning forever.

Tuks's Akosua Mensah, who was the player of the match against the Crinums, is confident that they can keep on winning.

"The challenge we set ourselves as a team is to try and remain unbeaten throughout the tournament. But we are not obsessed about it. Every match is a new challenge. When we take to the court, our only focus is to be at our best minute by minute game for game. What helps is that we have each other's backs," explains the Jaguars goal defence. 

Mensah and Jasmine Ziegelmeier (goalkeeper) are possibly one of the most formidable defensive combinations. With them, in the circle, there is rarely such a thing as an easy goal for any opposition team. They are out to rattle all goal shooter's confidence whether it is through their tactical brilliance or a purely physical presence. 

When asked, Mensah said it is all about good communication.

"The moment we feel as if things start to go awry on defence Jasmine and I will talk about to see what we should change. We never wait until we are sitting on the bench." 

The Jaguars clinched the game against the Crinums in the first half taking a five-goal lead which they never relinquished. Credit should go to the Crinums who made the defending champions work to the end to secure the victory. 

Tomorrow at 11:00 the Jaguars play the Fireballs.

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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