The Free State Crinums are the 2026 Telkom Netball League Division 1 champions. Here, Owethu Ngubane of the Fireballs and Karla Pretorius of Free State Crinums battle it out for the top honour. Photo: BackpagePix
The Free State Crinums returned to the top of the Telkom Netball League tree, avenging last season's final defeat to the Gauteng Golden Fireballs with a 46-32 victory in the Division 1 final at Rembrandt Hall at the University of Pretoria on Monday evening.
The unbeaten Free State side were pushed hard by the defending champions during a fiercely contested opening half before pulling away to take a 25-20 lead into the half-time break.
Returning goal attack Owethu Ngubane made an immediate impact for the Fireballs, while Tarle Mathe continued to thrive in her new role of wing defence as the Joburg outfit unsettled and harried he Crinums. Yet, it was the defensive grit that has underpinned the Crinums' march to the decider that once again proved decisive.
Veteran Karla Pretorius was the glue holding the defensive unit together as the Crinums won the key rebound battle and repeatedly disrupted the Fireballs' attacking rhythm.
