The 2024 Varsity Netball tournament kicked off in exhilarating fashion with the first bumper weekend at the Wits Sports Hall in Johannesburg. Defending champions UP Tuks blew TUT off the court while last year’s runners up UJ prevailed in a tough battle against Maties. Four times champions UFS Kovsies had a comfortable victory over Wits and NWU didn’t have any problems against Madibaz.
UJ 46 – 38 MATIES
Last year’s runner-up UJ had to put in a strong performance in the last 15 minutes of their match against Maties to beat the 2022 winners.
The game was a thriller with very little to tell between the two teams with the Maroon Machine edging out the Orange Army 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. UJ captain Cornelia Mupenda had her work cut out for her, having to do some mopping up on defence, with the Maties attack looking dangerous every time they entered the circle.
The second quarter saw the end-to-end battle continue, with UJ enjoying the better of the exchanges, where Muhluri Hlatshwayo posed a threat under the hoop, proving to be a menace to the Maties defence. The Orange Army clawed their way into the lead with a 24-21 score line.
With UJ enjoying a slim lead in the third quarter, they then decided to call upon the power play just to give them a bit of a cushion over Maties. The power play however worked in reverse, with UJ failing to score a single goal, while Maties were able to get two. The whistle eventually sounded for the end of the quarter and there was just two goals in it, with UJ leading 32-30.
The final quarter saw a sudden resurgence from the Orange Army, who were relentless as they got away from the Maroon Machine on the scoreboard, showing more energy with much of the supporters getting behind them. Maties saw their tempo drop dramatically, which led to a loss in concentration at crucial moments that allowed UJ to pile on the pressure and eventually secure a well-deserved 46-38 win.
Quarter Scores: 10-11 | 24-21 | 32-30 | 46-38
FNB Player of the match: Boitumelo Mahloko (UJ)
NWU 85 – 49 MADIBAZ
NWU were fearless in their performance against Madibaz with an emphatic victory over the team from Gqeberha.
The Potchefstroom-based team looked up for the battle mentally and physically, seeing them executing their combinations well inside the first quarter. The Madibaz were however also able to put together a couple passages of good play. At the close of the first quarter, NWU managed to build up a 25-12 lead.
The resumption of the second quarter saw NWU build on their lead, growing the goal difference to 20 goals. Madibaz looked lacklustre in their movements as the game went on, seeing their opponents grow in confidence to take a 43-23 lead into the halfway mark.
Sunel Smit produced a clinical display and converted her opportunities to set her team up well. Madibaz struggled to keep NWU from moving the ball at free will, which resulted in them falling a further 33 goals behind the ladies from the North West in the third quarter, 66-33.
The final period of play was a much tighter affair with Madibaz putting in their best performance of the game. The rotation of players seemed to rejuvenate them but NWU still outscored them by three goals in the final 15 minutes to take a much deserved 85-49 win.
Quarter Scores: 25-12 | 43-23 | 66-33 | 85-49
FNB Player of the match: Sunel Smit (NWU)
UFS KOVSIES 78 – 33 WITS
A highly experienced UFS Kovsies team took on a young Wits side in the 2024 Varsity Netball opener and comfortably came out on top.
The game saw Kovsies off to a flying start, converting their opportunities well in the opening exchanges. Wits showed their lack of experience, with a few loose passes letting them down as they tried to build. The first quarter concluded with Kovsies enjoying a 10 goal lead.
The second quarter saw Wits looking to cut the deficit as they called upon the first power play of the match. Unfortunately things did not work out for the Witsies, who could only add 2 goals to their tally. Rolene Streutker hardly put a foot wrong under the hoop, bagging goals at will for Kovsies. This lead to Wits with a lot to think about at the break as they trailed 43-14.
Wits looked more balanced defensively in the third quarter but lacked a real threat on attack. Kovsies did eventually call for their power play, that saw the points split 6-4 in favour of Wits. The third quarter was certainly a quarter Wits could be proud of as they managed to control matters better. Kovsies still held a comfortable 60-24 lead when the quarter came to a close.
The final quarter was a fantastic display from both teams but the discipline shown by Kovsies was phenomenal, as they closed the game off with a comfortable 78-33 victory. In the end the real difference between the two sides was experience, with Kovsies possessing four national team players, while the Witsies continue to develop their young team under Dr Elsje Jordaan.
Quarter Scores: 16-6 | 43-13 | 60-24 | 78-33
FNB Player of the match: Rolene Streutker (UFS Kovsies)
UP TUKS 96 – 9 TUT
Defending champions UP Tuks were in fine form as they blew away their Tshwane rivals TUT in a game that was a fairly one-sided affair throughout.
Tuks took control of the match from the onset, playing at a high intensity that TUT struggled to keep up with. TUT failed to create enough of a threat to their opponent’s defence, who were comfortably in transitioning rapidly to attack. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 23-4.
Play resumed with the 2023 champions picking up where they left off and with TUT looking more than a little rattled. The half time whistle would’ve certainly brought relief to TUT, with Tuks looking poised for triple digits at the end. The teams went into the interval at 55-7.
Throughout the game, UP Tuks coach Erin Burger often shifted her players around, playing them in different positions, which still did not affect the team’s chemistry as they continued to run riot. The third quarter did see an improved display from TUT, but they still couldn’t capitalise on really making an impact. The teams ended the quarter with TUT just looking to try limit the damage in the fourth quarter, with the score sitting at 74-12.
The final quarter was played in a similar manner to the first two quarters, with Tuks giving their bench a fair run. At the final whistle, the defending champions were only five goals short of those triple digits. TUT had ten goals deducted from their final score (19) for failing to include a minimum of two players from their designated transformation group in their team.
Quarter Scores: 23-4 | 55-7 | 74-12 | 96-9 (after ten points deducted)
FNB Player of the match: Kamogelo Maseko (UP Tuks)
Round 2 fixtures on 8 September HERE.
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