Maties secured a hard-fought 46-39 victory over NWU-Pukke in their Varsity Netball rematch in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
After the match between the sides in Potchefstroom was cut short by loadshedding, the teams squared off again and it was a classic which could have gone either way.
The Potchefstroom side started like a house on fire and raced out to an early 7-1 lead after the opening five minutes.
Maties got something of a foothold in the game, but Pukke were able to protect that lead and took a 12-6 advantage into the first break.
The Stellenbosch side continued to fight their way back into the game with a determined display in the second quarter, and by the half-time break they had cut the deficit to just one as Pukke held an 18-17 lead at the break.
That left it anyone’s game in the second half, in a similar manner to the closely-fought contest between the two sides earlier in the year before loadshedding intervened.
With the score tied at 24-24 in the third period, Pukke called the powerplay but it was Maties who took best advantage to grab a 28-26 lead.
They pushed on and at the final break they had built up a handy 34-27 lead, leaving Pukke with it all to do in the final quarter.
The Potchefstroom side managed to close the gap to 40-37 with just three minutes to play when the final powerplay was called, setting up a thrilling finish.
Maties managed to hang on under pressure while Pukke had to be content with a single bonus point for their efforts.
FNB player of the match: Melandi Pretorius
Teams:
Maties: Charmaine Baard, Nelandré Mostert, Cari Swart, Haike Brink, Saskia Stander, Suné Claassens (captain), Jo Prins, Sasha-Lee Petersen, Juline Rossouw (captain), Melandi Pretorius, Stephanie Brandt.
NWU-Pukke: Sigrid Burger, Renske Stoltz, Izanna Muller (captain), Mandolene Hermanus, Lentsamang Motau, Chantè Bester, Jeantè Strydom, Maronel Scherman, Zandrè Kruger, Kifiloe Tsotetsi, Marna Claassens, Anchè Engelbrecht.
