Thursday, March 28, 2024

19th Maccabi Games, Israel 2013


 

Lots of "Firsts" in the Netball Tournament of the 19th Maccabi Games – July 2013

Israel has hosted the netball tournament since the 16th Maccabi Game in 2001 and neither the Seniors nor the Juniors have ever won a single match – until now!

On the first day of the tournament the Israeli juniors chalked up their first ever win by beating South Africa 42-9. Two days later the Seniors followed suit and also beat the South African team for the first time by 56-14.

The following day the South African juniors put on a much better display of netball but that was not sufficient to surpass the Israelis who beat them a second time by 36-27.

Later that evening the Seniors were up against their arch-rivals, Great Britain, to whom they had very narrowly lost twice (31-33 and 37-38) in the previous Maccabiah. Although they had been in the lead for the first half of their first game against GB (19-14), they were outplayed by their opponents in the second half and lost by 31-40. In what was probably the most exciting match of the preliminary rounds, the second time Israel played GB, the home team delighted the crowd of spectators by successfully holding their lead from the second quarter (17-11) to the final whistle when the scoreboard showed 30-27, another first for the ecstatic Israeli team!

On the final day of the tournament, the Israeli youngsters outplayed South Africa for the third time (34-15) and were deservedly rewarded with their first Bronze medal.

In the contest for the top Junior position, Australia – who have always won gold – were the firm favourites for another win against the GB team. Up by two goals at the end of the first quarter (11-9), the Brits put up a tremendous fight against Australia but at the end of the second and third quarters the scores were tied (23-23 and 34-34) and everyone present at the court was expecting the game to go into extra time. The GB netballers put every ounce of their skill and determination into their play in the last quarter and managed to forge ahead for a first-time win against the Aussies of 47-44.    

Having beaten the South African players for the second time (53-18), the Israeli Seniors faced the very strong Australian team in the finals. Although the Australians graciously admitted that the Israelis had given them their hardest competition throughout the tournament, the home team could not match the top team's outstanding proficiency on court and lost to them by 16-54. But they still won the silver medal for the very first time!

Adding to Israel's successes, the MVP awards went to Tali Kur (Juniors), Dominique Avivi (Seniors) and Best and Fairest (Seniors) went to Nomi Komar.  

The results were as follows:

Juniors

Date

Teams

1st quarter

2nd quarter

3rd quarter

Final score

21 July 2013

Australia vs Great Britain

9-11

21-21

36-28

45-35

 

Israel vs South Africa

11-1

17-6

26-8

42-9

22 July 2013

Israel vs Australia

5-13

15-24

18-34

22-49

 

Great Britain vs South Africa

16-2

25-4

41-8

53-10

23 July 2013

Great Britain vs Israel

9-6

20-13

33-16

49-22

 

Australia vs South Africa

17-1

32-5

46-6

64-8

24 July 2013

Israel vs South Africa

10-5

20-10

29-19

36-27

 

Australia vs Great Britain

14-4

24-12

38-21

50-34

25 July 2013

Australia vs Israel

15-6

28-11

39-18

53-23

 

South Africa vs Great Britain

3-7

6-19

6-36

7-49

26 July 2013

Australia vs South Africa

18-2

36-6

53-8

70-11

 

Great Britain vs Israel

11-5

27-15

40-21

49-26

3rd/4thplaces

Israel vs South Africa

7-4

15-8

22-12

34-15

1st/2ndplaces

Australia vs Great Britain

9-11

23-23

34-34

44-47

 

 

Seniors

Date

Teams

1st quarter

2nd  quarter

3rd  quarter

Final score

21 July 2013

Great Britain vs Israel

9-12

14-19

28-25

40-31

 

Australia vs South Africa

18-2

38-2

57-2

78-2

22 July 2013

Australia vs Israel

11-6

23-8

36-12

42-14

 

Great Britain vs South Africa

19-2

35-5

48-9

60-12

23 July 2013

Australia vs Great Britain

18-2

33-6

51-8

67-12

 

Israel vs South Africa

16-3

32-5

43-10

56-14

24 July 2013

Great Britain vs Israel

7-6

11-17

20-25

27-30

 

South Africa vsAustralia

3-17

7-34

10-52

14-70

25 July 2013

Great Britain vs South Africa

13-4

27-11

41-14

58-20

 

Australia vs Israel

14-6

27-7

48-15

56-22

26 July 2013

South Africa vs Israel

5-13

11-22

14-35

18-53

 

Great Britain vs Australia

7-21

14-38

20-63

25-80

3rd/4thplaces

South Africa vsGreat Britain

5-14

8-33

13-42

17-55

1st/2ndplaces

Israel vs Australia

3-16

5-30

9-42

16-54