An astonishing 207 points scored, a meagre 112 conceded. Played three, won three and three bonus points.
This is what the NWU-Puk’s performance list looks like today after a nearly unsurpassable first Varsity Netball weekend in which the NWU-Pukke beat Kovsies (60-47), TUT (88-16) as well as Tukkies (59-49).
The NWU-Puk’s victories over Kovsies, TUT and Tukkies were at the very least as unexpected as a cat barking, yet the way in which the respective victories were obtained was something to smile about.
Kovsies, the defending USSA champions, were not only defeated, but the NWU-Puk also succeeded in scoring a bonus point for fifty points or more.
The 88-16 victory over TUT can be described as a strangle victory, as it were, because every point was drawn from the Pretoria players. The Puk was already 40-12 in the lead at half-time after which they scored another 48 points.
Dorette Badenhorst, NWU-Puk’s coach, regarded a bonus point victory over TUT in the run-up to the weekend’s games as one of her goals.
Thus asked for; thus done. With interest.
However, Monday afternoon at the University of Pretoria’s Rembrandt Hall the NWU-Puk’s champagne weekend could have taken on the taste of cheap sparkling wine when they took on a wounded Tuks.
The hosts were still licking their wounds after their 53-46 defeat against Kovsies, and the only remedy for this would have been a victory over the white-hot NWU-Pukke.
The mantle of “favourite” has been the Achilles heel of many a team and Badenhorst cautioned her troops that over-confidence against Tuks would have been like stepping in a trap of their own doing.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match and not easy at all,” says Badenhorst.
She was right.
“During the course of the match they didn’t give us any chances to turn balls around and their goals were also very accurate. It was a tough match.”
The performance of co-captain and defence organiser, Marli Geel, played a decisive role for the NWU-Pukke.
Is defence the best method of attack? This is a question that Geel as well as goal shooter Zandré Kruger answered with an unequivocal ‘yes’ against Tukkies’ sharpshooters.
As already said, it is with good reason that there are smiles all around in the NWU-Puk camp.
“The bonus points were unexpected, I really just hoped for a win against Tukkies and Kovsies. To win in this manner was very satisfying.”
And she does not want to know anything about taking any credit.
“Our team spirit is outstanding; it is our recipe for success. The experience of Marli (Geel) and Elsunet (du Plessis) means a lot, but it is not possible to single out individuals. This is team that plays together.”
Monday evening at the army’s Kopanelo court in Potchefstroom sees the match against Maties. These players from the Cape caused one of the big shocks of the weekend when they beat UJ, and the NWU-Puk will have to know their story to knot the tails of these ladies from Stellenbosch.
“We struggled against Maties at the USSAs. They play a physical, aggressive style of netball, but we have an ally in our home crowd. The support that we enjoyed up till now was wonderful and we cannot wait to play in front of our people. We would like to invite everyone to come and support us on Monday evening; we are going to need it.”
A NWU-Puk team armoured by the people of Potchefstroom… save a thought for Maties.
By Bertie Jacobs
