daniel chigunwe
Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
The Premier Netball League got off to a slow start at the weekend with only eight of its 16 teams getting to action.
Of the eight, six of the teams played two games each at Stodart Netball Complex while the other two battled it out at Mkoba Teacher’s College, Gweru.
The Stodart affair saw the first bubble hosting feisty newbies 7 Flames, Harare District and Waterfalls and the other one had Harare City, Black Rhinos and Stormers Netball Queens.
Gweru outfit City angels squared off with Beitbridge Border Stars at the Mkoba bubble.
Perennial champions Platinum Queens, runners-up GreenFuel, Ngezi Platinum, ZDF Queens, Zupco, Flow Angels among others did not turn up for the games.
Some of the teams cited logistical challenges while others have made it clear that they will not participate until pending issues have been resolved while Filchrist are understood to have withdrawn their two teams from the league.
However, the PNL steering committee were satisfied with the turnout and feel that more teams will come on board once their house is in order.
“The turnout was okay considering that the other teams had confirmed their participation in the season 2024. So now it is up to us to sort out our issues in time.
“We are in the process of fixing our issues. For a start, we will set a date for elections, which we are going to conduct on the April 20 and once we have a substantive committee then everything will fall into place.
“The other teams have already promised that they will participate in the next bubble,” said the steering committee.
At Stodart Netball Complex, Black Rhinos came out unbeaten after thwarting minnows Stormers 61-19 before a narrow 35-27 victory against tight contenders Harare City.
The thriller against the Municipality side entertained the fans, who braved the afternoon showers to witness the action-packed fixture.
Across town, Rainbow Netball League had one of its biggest weekends which had perennial Champions Glow Petroleum Queens facing off with nemesis Correctional Queens in an action packed thriller which ended as a 48 all stalemate.
Results
PNL Matchday 1
Harare District 50-31Waterfalls, Seven Flames 42-34 Waterfalls, Seven Flames 38-45 Harare District, Stormers 19- 61 Black Rhinos, Harare City 27-35 Black Rhinos, Harare City 68-15 Stormers, City Angels 33-25 Beitbridge Border Stars
RANL Matchday 4 Results
Support Unit 39-66 Correctional, Filchrist 35-59 Mambas, Mthala 57-39 Yadah, Epworth Dolphins 23-67 Chibwe, Ruwa 36-53 Yadah, Chibwe 49-41 ZRP Masvingo, Flow Angels 54-48 Khami, Khami 47-42 Santa, Correctional 48-48 Glow Petroleum,
Mambas 51-26 RioZim, Mthala 79-36 Ruwa,
Epworth Dolphins 33-75 ZRP Masvingo,
Bikita Minerals 32-66 Tenax,
Tenax 45-38 Golden Valley,
Bikita Minerals 32-61 Golden Valley,
Support Unit 33-63 Glow Petroleum, RioZim 15-33 Filchrist, Flow Angels 63-23 Santa, Bright Emarald 42-25 Belvedere,
Bright Emerald (walkover) on Hi-flyers
Belvedere (walkover) on Hi-flyers
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