Tuks celebrate after winning the match during the final match of the Varsity Netball Tuks v Maties at the University of Pretoria, Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria on 07 October 2019.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/SASPA
UP Tuks were crowned Varsity Netball champions last night at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria. Beating Maties 48-3, Tuks made history going undefeated throughout this year’s campaign.
The home side were close to perfect in this year’s campaign and kept on re-writing the history books with their Captain Tshina Mdau becoming the first woman to compete in five Varsity Netball finals.
Mdau won the toss and the highly anticipated final got underway. The first quarter was filled with sloppy errors and unnecessary turnovers by both teams who seemed to only find their groove just after the 6th minute. After a nervy start, Tuks looked to capitalise when a Jasmine Ziegelmeier interception, turned into a Venetia Grobler conversation, Tuks taking the game to Maties with an 11-4 advantage and five minutes left of the first quarter.
Maties in-form campaigner and Captain, Nicholé Taljaard, then hit back with a swift reply, followed by 3 on the trot from the Maroon Machine’s goal shooter, Sian Moore who proved to be very consistent throughout this year’s tournament. At the end of the first quarter, it was the side from Pretoria who took a 4 point lead with score 14-10 at the first break.
Maties Coach, Zanele Mdodana, made the first change which proved to be the difference by bringing on Nicola Smith in place of Stephanie Brandt, solidifying the Maties defence at goalkeeper. The ladies from Stellenbosch then began to grow in confidence, scoring 4 goals to level matters at 14-14.
With the Stellenbosch outfit beginning to find their feet, scoring a double-pointer and dominating in the turn-overs, the teams remained deadlocked in a tussle for the lead. At the half-time mark, however, it was the Maroon Machine who took a one-point advantage over their opponents, 23-24.
Maties Coach, Zanele Mdodana addressing her players after the first quarter. Photo: Christiaan Kotze/SASPA
Coming out of the change rooms, the third quarter proved to be a battle of endurance and concentration with the outfits going toe to toe matching point for point, Grobler netted twice taking her team to 29 only to have Moore reply, bringing Maties to a tally of 27.
Both coaches making vital changes in a showcase of tactical experience, after Jo Prins moved into the wing back position for Maties, Tuks Coach Jenny van Dyk brought on Chantel Swart in reply. With Maties’ Power Play called in the last two minutes, it was the home side who took advantage after a loss of possession, allowing Danielle van Zyl to capitalize on a double point advantage to Moore’s one, 35-34, in favour of the UP Tuks.
What proved to be the difference in last nights’ affair was that even though defensively they were equally matched, Tuks had 10 more attempts than their counterparts. With 4 minutes to spare and the Maroon Machine leading the game by two points, 38-40, it looked set to be the year for the ladies from Stellenbosch. However, this was not to be, in a twist of fate Tuks found their second wind and pushed through to take the game to a final score of 48-43, with 2 minutes of relentless resurgence from the ladies from Pretoria.
Before confetti fell from the Rembrandt roof, and Tuks’ celebratory party began, the moment of the match was awarded to Tuks wing defence, Lungile Mthembu, with the MTN pulse interceptor awarded to the runners-up goalkeeper, Nicola Smith. Her backline partner, Khomotso Mamburu walked away as player of the match.
Speaking to Supersport, Van Dyk complimented her ladies on their victorious performance, “I am not surprised, this is a bunch of amazing girls, they’ve got the head for this and they understand where their true power lies,” said Van Dyk.
In her post-match interview, the opposing side’s Mdodana told Supersport, “I am extremely proud of my girls, they came out here against the crowd, against everybody, and they stood up and showed up, they gave a good fight and that’s what we are about.”
After being asked to comment on Tuks’ resurgence in the final four minutes, and how they turned the game around which looked set to be in favour for Maties, Mdodana said, “there were some critical calls according to my observations, in that last two minutes, it was really tight, but I’ll give it to Tuks. 2017 was the last time they held the cup, congratulations to coach Jenny and the team, even when it was tough they never gave up and fought to the end and that’s what netball is about, that’s what sport is about.”
General view during the Final match of the Varsity Netball Tuks v Maties at the University of Pretoria, Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria on 07 October 2019.
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/SASPA