The Kovsies netball team will be traveling to Stellenbosch knowing they’ll face a Maties booming with confidence and like them, also fighting for a home semi-final berth.
The Free State students will know very well that dropping points in the Boland could cost them a home semi-final as they have a tough game waiting in the last round against NWU. According to Rieze Straeuli, goal attack and wing attack of Kovsies, they expect a fierce contest.
“What impressed me about Maties is that they play with a high intensity until the last second. They pose a threat in both their defensive and attacking circle, so we are going to be patient when giving the ball to our shooters and stick with a strong man-to-man defence,” she said.
The Kovsies will possibly still be hurting after last year’s heavy 38-54 loss in Stellenbosch, their first defeat to the Maties in a decade. It also cost them a place in the semi-finals.
Both teams had two good matches in Pretoria over the weekend. The Kovsies achieved victories over the Vaal University of Technology and the Madibaz, whilst the Maties lost by one and two goals to NWU and UP-Tuks respectively – teams they would normally struggle against.
According to Straeuli (22), who is playing in her fourth Varsity Netball competition, she is comfortable to alter between goal attack and wing attack, even though she played the majority of her senior netball at either goal shooter or goal attack.
“It is a new challenge that I am enjoying thoroughly and I feel that I am equally comfortable whether I am on GA or WA,” she said.
Along with Meagan Roux and Marna Claassens, the Kovsies have plenty of options on goal attack. From the 42 attempts at goals to date, Straeuli sank 32 of them.
Kovsies team: Alicia Puren, Tanya Mostert (c), Khomotso Mamburu, Marna Claassens, Ané Retief, Khanyisa Chawane, Rieze Straeuli, Maryke Coetzee, Gertriana Retief, Mariska Pieters, Meagan Roux, Sikholiwe Mdletshe.
Previous meetings between Kovsies and Maties in Varsity Netball:
2016: Maties 54 – Kovsies 38
2015: Kovsies 41 – Maties 33
2014: Kovsies 56 – Maties 29
2013: Kovsies 56 – Maties 33
Last five meetings between Kovsies and Maties (all competitions):
2017: Kovsies 48 – Maties 39
2016: Maties 54 – Kovsies 38, Kovsies 45 – Maties 42, Kovsies 61 – Maties 34
2015: Kovsies 41 – Maties 33
