On Monday evening Maties and Tuks fought their way through to the final of the Varsity Netball tournament when both teams beat Kovsies and NWU, respectively, to earn a spot in next week’s final showdown that promises to be an epic encounter.
In the first semi-final, it was Maties away in Bloemfontein against Kovsies that had the spectators on the edge of their seats as the game was nothing such of action on the court. The home side, Kovsies were the better of the two in the first quarter, as they took the early lead, 17-12 and kept their opponents on the backfoot.
However, the Zanele Mdodana-led team strongly fought back but by the halftime break, the home side remained in the lead with the scoreline at 32-29. It was then in the third quarter where the ladies in maroon showed their prowess and took the lead for the first time in the game as they led 47-42 for an incredible comeback, which eventually ended in a two-goal difference victory for Maties (62-60).
Tuks Sealed a Comfortable Victory Over NWU
After an epic first semi-final supporters were eager for more action when Tuks hosted NWU in Pretoria and the home team did not disappoint as they capitalised on their opponent’s loss of possession and were in the lead by the end of the first quarter with the scoreline at 17-8.
Tuks remained clinical after the second half, while NWU held a powerplay, but by the third quarter the ladies in white had dominated the affair with 12 unanswered goals in a row by Venetia Grobler and Chantelle Swart to set the score at 48-28.
The stripe generation continued to knock on their opponent’s door and were successful as they managed to walk off the court with a comfortable 57-38 victory and set up an exciting final against Maties that will take place on Monday, 7 October, 2019.
Varsity Netball Semi-Final Results:
Semi-Final 1:
Kovsies 60-62 Maties
Semi-Final 2:
Tuks 48-28 NWU
Final – 7 October, 2019:
18h45: Maties v Tuks, Rembrandt Hall, Pretoria
Photo 1 Caption: The Maties team all smiles after their 62-60 victory against Kovsies in the first semi-final in the Varsity Netball tournament on Monday, 30 September, 2019. Photo: @VarsityNetball on Twitter
Photo 2 Caption: Tuks secured a comfortable 48-28 victory against NWU to book their spot in the Varsity Netball final against Maties on Monday, 7 October, 2019. Photo: @VarsityNetball on Twitter