Telkom Netball League: Crinums and Tornados Set the Power Week 1 Standard

Free State Crinums and Western Cape Tornados have emerged from Power Week 1 of the Telkom Netball League with commanding statements of intent. The Crinums’ perfect six-from-six record in Division 1, paired with the Tornados’ unbeaten seven-match run in Division 2, have set the benchmark for the tournament’s next phase and established themselves as the teams to beat heading into Power Week 2.

For the Crinums, the week represented a masterclass in controlled excellence. Under the stewardship of national netball legend Karla Pretorius, who proved instrumental throughout the tournament, Free State constructed a fortress-like defensive structure while executing rapid transition play that left opponents struggling to keep pace.

Free State Crinums and Western Cape Tornados Crown Strong Weeks as TNL Power Week 1 Wraps

Their defining victory came against arch rivals Gauteng Jaguars on the penultimate day, when they dismantled the competition’s in-form side 56-36 in a performance that announced their championship credentials unmistakably.

What distinguished the Crinums throughout Power Week 1 was consistency across all nine days. They did not rely on single-day brilliance or isolated sparks of dominance. Instead, they methodically built leads early, maintained discipline through the middle quarters, and closed out matches with composure when opponents mounted comeback attempts. By the final day, they had accumulated 359 goals while conceding only 241, a goal average of 1.49 that underscores their attacking efficiency and defensive control.

The Crinums’ path was not without tests. Their midweek match against Southern Stings required them to navigate a determined opponent, and the Jaguars pushed them harder than most. Yet each challenge was met with tactical adjustment and midcourt control. Refiloe Nketsa’s tempo-setting in the middle of the court proved crucial, complemented by Karla Victor’s standout performances that reinforced Free State’s ability to impact games across multiple positions.

In Division 2, Western Cape Tornados carved a different but equally impressive narrative. Their unbeaten run was not built on dominant scorelines alone, though they delivered those with regularity. Instead, it reflected the balance between defensive pressure and attacking efficiency that their coaching staff cultivated across seven matches.

Their 65-33 demolition of Eastern Cape Comets exemplified their capacity to impose their game on opponents, while their 51-45 final victory over Free State Sonoblomo demonstrated their ability to withstand pressure and hold their nerve in tight finishes.

Centre player Lara Ehlers became the embodiment of Tornados’ philosophy, earning multiple Player of the Match awards while managing the tempo of matches with experience and precision. The Tornados’ goal average of 1.75 is remarkable. They scored 439 goals while conceding only 251 across seven matches, a differential that speaks to both attacking potency and defensive solidity.

Yet both teams will recognise that Power Week 1’s success, while establishing a psychological advantage, represents only the first phase of a three-week competition.

Gauteng Jaguars finished second in Division 1 with four wins from six matches and the experience to challenge. Southern Stings and Golden Fireballs remain positioned to make final-week pushes, while Kingdom Queens and Northern Cape Diamonds pose real Division 2 threats.

As the tournament moves to Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg from 22 to 31 May, the Crinums and Tornados will carry momentum and confidence.

But the standard of unbeaten records and dominant statistical profiles they set in Durban is precisely what their challengers will aim to dismantle, and Power Week 2’s Johannesburg welcome beckons with promises of competition at its most compelling.

Visit the Telkom Netball League Daily Wraps on gsport

Day 1 Results on Friday, 24 April 2026

Day Results on Saturday, 25 April 2026

Day 3 Results on Sunday, 26 April 2026

Day 4 Results on Monday, 27 April 2026

Day 5 Results on Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Day 6 Results on Wednesday, 29 April 2026

Day 7 Results on Thursday, 30 April 2026

Day 8 Results on Friday, 1 May 2026

Day 9 Results on Saturday, 2 May 2026

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Main Photo Caption: Free State Crinums (pictured) and Western Cape Tornados emerged as the standout sides from Power Week 1 of the Telkom Netball League, with the Crinums claiming a perfect six-from-six record in Division 1 to set the benchmark for the tournament’s next phase. All Photos: Netball South Africa

Photo 2 Caption: The Western Cape Tornados emerged unbeaten across seven matches in Division 2 of the TNL Power Week 1 in Durban.

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