On Thursday the Crinums beat the Southern Stings 55-48 to advance to the championship match.

There will be some concern over the Protea, Khanyisa Chawane, who was struggling with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

The player did however come back onto the court in the latter stages to help close out the game and she just proved why she is so highly rated and was selected for the upcoming Netball World Cup.

The player of the match and Crinums captain, Ané Retief, said it all came down to a team effort.

“The mood in the camp was one of just giving everything and to play the semi-final as if it was your last game,” said Retief.

“People always say thank you to the team, but today it was truly - thank you to my team for this award. It was truly a team effort.

“We work very hard together and we also communicate on court and gel as a unit. It's not an individual sport, it's really about uniting both on and off the court.”

Retief added that the team is confident of breaking their seven-year title drought in the national league, and the grasp the magnitude of the game, which she believes they can win.

“It's a massive privilege – in my seven years on playing in the Varsity Cup and the Telkom Netball League, it's the second time that I'm going to the final.

“The previous time we weren't victorious. So, it's a massive privilege to play in the final, and we're also going to dominate it.”

In the other semi-final the Jaguars beat the Golden Fireballs 53-50 to set up a date with the Crinums in Saturday’s final.

The Jaguars won’t be a push over as they knocked out the defending champions, the Golden Fireballs. The Jaguars know how to win a final as they are the five-time champions in their own right.

Saturday’s big final at the Heartfelt Arena gets will get underway at 18:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport