Having had a tough opening game against UP-Tuks at the start of Varsity Netball 2017, the Kovsies have another two matches to fine-tune matters before they face Maties and NWU later in the month.
The Free State students come up against the Vaal University of Technology on Sunday and the Madibaz a day later, both in Pretoria. After suffering a 43-53 loss to Tuks in the opening round, the Kovsies had the chance to rectify matters against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
The Kovsies have a reputation as slow starters having also lost their opening fixture in 2013, 2014 and 2016. The win over UJ, by 62-31, still had its share of errors, but on Monday the Kovsies did little wrong in their mammoth win (93-16) over UWC, according to captain, Tanya Mostert. In the process the Kovsies recorded their biggest win and scored their most goals ever in Varsity Netball.
“Our goal for the match against UWC was to build a big score and to focus on the small things to be ready for the bigger things and bigger matches later on. I think we achieved that,” said Mostert.
“We used our opportunities and did the basics well. I was glad that a lot of the players got game time and they flourished. It was a good confidence booster going forward.”
On Saturday her sister, Karla, will have her wedding in Bloemfontein, but with the Kovsies having to catch a bus early on Sunday morning, Tanya will probably not be able to party too hard and too late.
But then again, VUT should not pose any threat to them. In the previous three matches between the teams, the Kovsies have won by an average score of 81-22. Against the Madibaz, the Bloemfontein ladies also have a pretty good record. Having lost in 2013, they won the last four Varsity Netball matches against them, including the semi-final win of 2013.
Kovsie team: Gertriana Retief (GS), Alicia Puren (GS), Marna Claassens (GA, GS), Meagan Roux (GA, WA), Rieze Straeuli (WA, GA), Khanyisa Chawane (C, WA), Khomotso Mamburu (WD), Sikholiwe Mdletshe (WD, C), Tanya Mostert (captain, GD, GK, C), Maryke Coetzee (GD, GK), Rykie Venter (GK, GD), Ané Retief (GK).
