Calypso Girls beaten by South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, CMC- Trinidad and Tobago lost to South Africa SPAR Proteas 47-30 in a rough opening match of the tri-nation series at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Indoor Sport Centre in South Africa.

SPAR Proteas got off to a slow start, struggling to find rhythm partly on account of the physical style of play from the ninth ranked Calypso Girls.

However the South Africans’ defence was on top form, as the combination of Karla Mostert and Adele Niemand created increased opportunities due to intercepts and at the end of the first quarter led they led the Caribbean side 11-7.

Proteas player Chrisna Bootha was forced to leave the court in the second quarter due to injury from contact with T&T’s goalkeeper Alicia Liverpool.

South Africa widened the lead and finished the half 25-15 before substitute Melissa Myburgh was thrown to the ground and had to be taken off by stretcher.

The Calypso girls picked up the pace in the latter stages as the game gained intensity but made a number of errors as the Proteas registered a comfortable 17-goal victory.

T and T is using the tournament, which also involves world third ranked England, as part of its preparations for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.