One of the greatest comebacks in this year’s Varsity Netball tournament led the underdogs, the NMMU-Madibaz, to a historical win over the defending champions NWU-Pukke, with a score of 38-34.
The NWU-Pukke young goal shooter combinations, Marna Claassens and Fifi Tsotetsi, showed an accurate performance in the circle taking the NWU-Pukke into the second quarter with a lead of 12-7.
The Madibaz showed a steady comeback performance in the second quarter but the netball balls continued to sail through the nets with the NWU-Pukke extending their lead to 20-14.
The third quarter belonged to the Madibaz who stunned us all with their great comeback performance and goals shooters, Bianca Blom and Nolusindiso Twani, flourishing underneath the goal post to narrow the gap to 28-26. NWU-Pukke were trailing by two goals going into a tense last quarter.
In the final quarter, the underdogs showed a classy performance and put up a brilliant fight against the favourites coming into the match, the NWU-Pukke, to clinch an unexpected victory of 38-34.
The Madibaz showed some character against a strong Pukke team and proved that they do not back away from a tough fight easily.
FNB Player of the Match: Nolusindiso Twani (Madibaz)
NWU-Pukke: Zandré Kruger, Monique Reyneke, Chanté Bester (Captain), Jeanté Strydom, Nicole Amiras, Marna Claassens, Kifiloe Tsotetsi (Fifi)
Subs: Marike Maree, Zandri Vermeulen, Jomari Myburgh, Jessica du Plessis, Simone Rabie.
Madibaz: Philene van Niekerk, Hlumisa Sithonga (Captain), Eloïse Webb, Arné Rust, Sanelise Mgijima, Bianca Blom, Nolusindiso Twani,
Subs: Melodine Jacobs, Hadrin Tenteni, Riana Buys, Sibubele Mandeka, Nandipha Jack.
By Raynique Meyer
