Kovsies handed hosts UP-Tuks their only defeat of the season, to retain their Varsity Netball crown on Monday.
Although they had to travel to Pretoria to play the previously unbeaten UP-Tuks, Kovsies showed their pedigree with a polished performance.
Both teams fought hard from the outset, and a number of early turnovers meant that it took a while for Kovsies to open the scoring.
With the Mostert sisters winning a couple of crucial balls, the Free State side dominated possession in the opening exchanges.
UP-Tuks eventually got on the scoreboard, but could not stop the defending champions from racing out to a 9-3 lead after ten minutes.
By the first break the visitors had established a 13-5 advantage, which kept the crowd in Pretoria fairly quiet.
The home side rallied in the second quarter and showed great determination as they fought their way back into the game.
They ran hard, but it was hard work against a classy Kovsies side who managed to hold on to take a 22-16 lead into the half-time break.
Then the visitors took their power play early in the third quarter, and stretched their lead out to 30-22.
They managed to maintain that valuable buffer by making the most of their opportunities and went into the final quarter with a 39-31 advantage.
UP-Tuks made a number of changes at the final break in a bid to fight their way back into it, but they could not avoid what was a 49-42 defeat in the end.
In a perfect end for the champions, Karla Mostert capped a storming performance in the Varsity Netball final by claiming the Player of the Tournament award.
The Kovsies skipper was inspirational again as she led Kovsies to their second consecutive Varsity Netball title, by downing the previously unbeaten UP-Tuks on their home soil in Pretoria.
The hard-working defender made a number of crucial interventions alongside her sister Tanya in the final, and proved that she was the fans favourite by claiming the most votes to take the Samsung S4.
Although UP-Tuks came up short of the title, there was some consolation for their wing defence, Shadine van der Merwe, who took the Players player award.
Photo 1 caption: Anel Botha of Kovsies directs play during the 2014 Varsity Netball Final between hosts and challengers, UP-TUKS, and the Kovsies in the Rembrandt Hall at Tuks Pretoria, on Monday, 20 October 2014. The Free State defending champions became the only team to beat UP-Tuks in the 2014 season to retain the title. Photo: Catherine Kotze/SASPA
Photo 2 caption: Kovsies skipper Karla Mostert was inspirational again as she led Kovsies to their second consecutive Varsity Netball title, capping a storming performance in the Varsity Netball final to earn the Player of the Tournament award. Photo: Catherine Kotze/SASPA
(With editing by gsport)
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