The Varsity Netball semi-final stage has arrived and we look at how the four teams shape up against each other.
KOVSIES VS MATIES
Callie Human Hall, Bloemfontein @ 17:00
The Kovsies booked their semi-final berth at home thanks to a nail-biting 65-61 victory over Maties in last week’s final round to finish second on the log with the Stellenbosch students in third place.
The Kovsies have won their last six matches after going down to Tuks in the tournament opener, while Maties will be out for revenge on Monday evening.
Kovsies and Maties have only met in a semi-final once before. That was last year when Kovsies triumphed 56-45.
The teams have squared off eight times in Varsity Netball history, Kovsies winning six to the two wins of the Maties.
Last Monday, when the Kovsies won by 65-61, it was the first time that both the Maties and Kovsies reached 60 goals in the specific encounter.
There are two well-known faces to the Kovsies in the Maties team. Khomotso Mamburu, goal defence, and Adéle Niemand, the assistant coach, both represented the Free Staters for many years.
The teams for the fixture:
Kovsies: Lefébre Rademan (captain), Rieze Straeuli, Meagan Roux, Rolene Streutker, Khanyisa Chawane, Sikholiwe Mdletshe, Bianca de Wee, Oageng Khasake, Chanel Vrey, Ancia Pienaar, Jana Scholtz, Ané Retief.
Maties: Sian Moore, Nicholé Taljaard (captain), Claudia Jarrard, Carla Werth, Adri Uys, Caleigh Stuart, Sasha-Lee Petersen, Khomotso Mamburu, Stephanie Brandt, Nicola Smith, Chrisley Marshall, Jo Prins.
TUKS VS NWU
Rembrandt Hall, Pretoria @ 19:00
For a third time Tuks have gone through the group stage unbeaten, whilst NWU suffered defeats to top three (Tuks, Kovsies and Maties) to end fourth on the log.
Tuks and NWU have only met once before in a Varsity Netball semi-final. That was in the very first year (2013) when NWU prevailed by 59-49.
In total, the teams have played one another ten times before, each winning on five occasions. The previous four clashes between the teams produced a different winner each time.
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Interesting to note, in the first three encounters the FNB Player of the Match went to a NWU player and the next seven to a Tuks player.
In 2016 Tuks were unbeaten up until the final when they lost to NWU. It was the same story a year later, with the roles reversed.
The teams for the fixture:
Tuks: Venetia Grobler, Tshina Mdau (captain), Chantelle Swart, Marlize de Bruin, Danielle van Zyl, Lungile Mthembu, Akosua Mensah, Tracey Mthunzi, Mbali Ntuli, Jasmine Ziegelmeier, Jamie van Wyk, Anique Grobler.
NWU: Monique Reyneke (captain), Didi Keebine, Jessica du Plessis, Alicia van Staden, Bianca van Lelyveld, Lucy Strydom, Caitlinn Rousseau, Leonie Maree, Kailah Ferreira, Anelda Jacobs, Adivhaho Tshivhiahuvhi, Londeka Buthelezi.
VARSITY NETBALL SEMI-FINAL RECORDS
Biggest win in a semi-final: 65 goals (Tuks 87-22 Madibaz, 2016)
Smallest winning margin: 4 goals (NWU 46-42 Tuks, 2013)
Most goals scored in semi-final: 117 (Tuks 73-43 Maties, 2017)
Most goals scored by a team: 87 (Tuks 87-22 Madibaz, 2016)
Least goals scored in a semi-final: 88 (NWU 46-42 Tuks, 2013)
Least goals scored by a team: 22 (Tuks 87-22 Madibaz, 2016)
Tickets for Monday’s semi-finals are available on the Varsity Sports App and here: https://varsitysportsa.plankton.mobi/. You can also catch both matches live on SuperSport 210 from 17:00. Alternatively follow match updates on social media @VarsityNetball.
By Ruan Bruwer
