The bragging rights of what many claimed was the dress rehearsal for this year’s final in the Varsity Netball tournament, belong to UP-Tuks, who claimed a victory over NWU-Pukke with a score of 52-48.
UP-Tuks showed a classy performance in the first quarter against NWU-Pukke to take the lead of 16-10 going in to the second quarter. The NWU-Pukke were struggling in the circle with a great deal of pressure on Sigrid Burger and Renske Stoltz as their lack of accuracy cost them.
The momentum which UP-Tuks gained in the first quarter, and the goal percentage of 96% between Melissa Kotze and Lenize Potgieter, led to an extending lead against the NWU-Pukke side going into half time with a score of 33-24.
The Classy performance of the UP-Tuks side in the circle continued as they managed to shoot another 12 goals in the third quarter to change the score to 45-33 as NWU-Pukke still struggled to get any form of rhythm on court.
In the fourth quarter the NWU-Pukke showed that they as a team are able to fight back and narrowed the gap that UP-Tuks created, with a better performance by the two goal shooters, which concluded in a final score of 52-48.
Far superior shooting accuracy from UP-Tuks as well as an inspired defensive performance made them the better side on the day.
FNB Player of the Match: Lenize Potgieter (Tuks)
NWU-Pukke team: Sigrid Burger (Sigi), Renske Stoltz, Kifiloe Tsotetsi (Fifi), Marna Claassens, Romé Dreyer, Mandolien Hermanus (Mandy), Chanté Bester, JoMarie Myburgh, Simone Rabie, Zandre Kruger, Jeanté Strydom, Monique Reyneke
UP-Tuks team: Ine-Marie Venter, Melissa Kotze, Tshina Mdau, Marlize de Bruin, Shadine van der Merwe, Juzelri Garbers, Jasmine Ziegelmeier, Shongile Hlungwane, Lenize Potgieter, Dima Mogoale, Chantelle Swart, Izette Lubbe
Next fixtures on Monday for NWU-Pukke & UP-Tuks:
NWU-Puk versus VUT– Coetzenburg Indoor Centre, Stellenbosch
UJ versus Up-Tuks – Coetzenburg Indoor Centre, Stellenbosch
By Raynique Meyer
