Jumbo Queens win netball tourney

Sport
JUMBO Queens emerged winners of Zimbabwe Netball Association Bulawayo Metropolitan Province mid-season tournament played at Raylton Sports Club in Bulawayo

JUMBO Queens emerged winners of the Zimbabwe Netball Association Bulawayo Metropolitan Province mid-season tournament following a 14-12 victory over Ntutu Sparrows in the final played at Raylton Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday. SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

Going into the tournament, Ntutu Sparrows were favourites to win judging by their outstanding performance in the provincial league, which has seen them win 12 out of the 12 games they played this season.

However, they failed in the last hurdle to end up the mid-season tournament as runners-up.

Jumbo Queens walked away with a floating trophy while all the teams received participation certificates.

In the semi-finals Ntutu Sparrows beat Zesa 9-6 while Bulawayo Jumbos beat Lobengula 15-7.

To qualify for the semi-finals, Ntutu Sparrows beat Ntabazinduna 12-2, Khami Prison 11-2, dismissed Nketa 16-0 before ending their campaign in Pool A with a 11-8 victory over Mighty Queens.

Zesa started with a 9-10 loss to Bulawayo Jumbos, beat Turk Mine 16-7 before registering a 10-8 win over Free Stars and a 12-3 win over Fairbridge.

Lobengula Queens got the better of Phakamani winning 16-3 in the first game, beat Gwabalanda 9-4, before wrapping up with a 15-3 win over Nketa and also beat National University of Science and Technology 8-5.

After beating Zesa, Jumbo Queens beat Zimpost 12-6 before they registered a 15-1 win over Turk Mine before finishing off with a 18-5 victory over Diamonds.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Netball League fixtures secretary Precious Mudenge said they were happy with the turnout in the competition.

“The response to the tournament was very overwhelming because 18 teams participated in the tournament. After this tournament it will be back to the league on Saturday,” she said.

Last year’s winners Free Stars failed to make it this time around bowing out before the semi-finals.