1. Nine an unlucky number for Tuks
For a second time in the four years of Varsity Netball, UP-Tuks tripped over the final hurdle (losing 56-55 to NWU-Pukke in the final) after winning all eight games up to then. It happened to them in 2014 as well. In 2013 Pukke lost their first and only match of the campaign in the final. Two years later the unbeaten Kovsies could not make it beyond the semi-final stage. Thus no team has been able to win the competition with an unbeaten record.
2. Thrilling match to watch
Apart from the game being decided with only one point separating Tuks and Pukke, the quality of the game was fitting for a final and a great advertisement for the competition. This comes after some of the games, in particular in the first couple of rounds, were rather poor viewing material. But the best was kept for last. The 111 goals scored in the match were 22 more than the previous highest in a final – further proof of the quality.
3. Sad end for Kotze and Potgieter
It was a rather sad ending for Melissa Kotze and Lenize Potgieter in the Tuks vest. Both played their last game in the competition. Particularly Kotze, a great player over a number of years for Tuks, did not have the ending she would have wanted. Not only did she end her career without winning the trophy once, she also could not complete the match due to a foot injury. She was in tears afterwards. Last year Kotze missed the whole competition due to her marriage and a knee injury that also forced her to withdraw from the World Cup squad.
4. Thumbs up for crowd support in Pretoria
The final produced by far the biggest turnout for a game this year. It helped created a brilliant atmosphere in a packed Rembrandt Hall. Pukke also played a part in the large audience with a number of students making their way from Potchefstroom to Pretoria.
5. Double delight for Pukke
Pukke become the first university to win both the Varsity Netball and Varsity Cup titles in the same year. And in both finals (the rugby was against Maties, also an away fixture) Pukke won the game by a single point. As Jonathan Mokuena, head coach of Pukke’s rugby team, tweeted afterwards: “My life was shortened by two years tonight (Monday). Well done Pukke netball. What a year for Pukke!”
