Only three more matches are left of Varsity Netball 2017 and here are your five stats from the final round of group matches.
Repeat of 2015
As it panned out, the very same four teams at the same venues as in 2015 will battle it out in the semi-finals next Monday. That year UP-Tuks and the Kovsies were the firm favourites, but both lost at home.
Defenders step up to the plate
It seldom happens that a power play don’t produce any goals as teams normally drastically increase the tempo in those two minutes. But in the final power play between the Kovsies and NWU in the fourth quarter the two of them couldn’t sink a single goal. In fact, there wasn’t even an attempt at goal.
Goals galore in Pretoria
The match between Tuks and the University of the Western Cape produced no less than 125 goals. Tuks won by 90-35. This is a new competition record, surpassing the 124 goals scored in 2014 when Tuks thumped the University of Johannesburg by 98-26.
Zandré make it number 8
The goalkeeper of NWU, Zandré Erasmus extended her total FNB Player of the Match awards to eight. She and Shadine van der Merwe of Tuks, who was also named as the best player in her fixture, are in a close contest for the most awards. Van der Merwe sits on a total of seven. This will be her final year of Varsity Netball and could possibly be the same for Erasmus.
Things looking good in Stellenbosch
Although it can’t be justified as their best Varsity Netball campaign yet, the Maties have already had a great competition based on their performances from previous years. Their 26 logs points are their most yet, as well as the 415 goals they scored in their seven matches. They only lost to Tuks and NWU by two and one goal respectively.
