Prison Queens’ poor start to the FDH Bank Premier Netball League Season 2 continued today as they dropped crucial points at home, going down 48-57 to visiting Civonets at Zomba Stadium.
In a match that lived up to its billing, the Lilongwe-based Civonets showed resilience and tactical discipline to silence the home crowd and condemn the hosts to a third successive defeat.
Civonets made their intentions clear from the first whistle with a blistering start.
Centre Esther Makawa, who was later named Player of the Match, orchestrated play beautifully, feeding Goal Shooter Cynthia Khunga who used her height and physicality to trouble the Prison defence.
The visitors took the first quarter 16-12 and never looked back. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, extending their lead to 29-23 at half-time.
Prison Queens, who paraded Menala Kapombo as Goal Shooter, Beata Bande as Goal Attacker, Shira Dimba as Centre and Beauty Chirwa as Goalkeeper, struggled for rhythm. They looked pedestrian and wasteful in front of the basket in the opening two quarters.
The third quarter provided the game’s most dramatic moment. Spurred on by a vocal home crowd, Prison Queens finally found their organisation and fought back impressively, at one point levelling matters at 37-37. It was a see-saw affair, but Civonets clung on to a narrow 39-38 lead heading into the final break.
Coach Jane Chimaliro’s charges then shifted gears in the decisive fourth quarter. Their reliance on Khunga for super shots paid off as they pulled away, putting daylight between the two sides to seal a nine-basket victory, 57-48.
Speaking after the match, Prison Queens Coach Chisomo Kantuliro admitted his side lost concentration.
“The girls lost concentration and wasted chances especially in the first and second quarter as they were pedestrian but picked up in the third quarter. Civonets utilised the introduction of super shots through Cynthia Khunga and this overwhelmed us,” said Kantuliro.
The defeat means Prison have now lost three games in a row, having previously fallen to Blue Eagles Queens and Lioness.
For the Civonets coach, the win was a perfect response after losing to Kukoma Diamonds the previous day.
“The win was a must after we lost a game yesterday against Kukoma Queens and my girls reacted well,” Chimaliro said, while acknowledging her side’s overreliance on Khunga for super shots.
The result leaves Civonets with two wins and two losses from four games.
In other Week 2 results played at Blantyre Sports Arena, MAFCO Soldiers beat Pacers 40-38, Tigresses edged KIA Sisters 53-49 and Giants fell 39-42 to MAFCO.
