Maties made it a double during the Varsity Netball bumper weekend by beating winless UJ 65-32 in Pretoria on Monday.
A highly competitive opening quarter flew by as UJ displayed the kind of netball which would have encouraged their coach Bongiwe Msomi.
The Orange Army went toe-to-toe with Maties in the early exchanges, holding them 4-4 at a stage before a clutch of goals from Claudia Jarrard edged Maties ahead 10-5 with a few minutes to play.
At the end of the quarter Maties saw the score 12-7 in their favour.
UJ matched their first quarter goals tally in the second with Liza Kruger being the main instigator at the top of the court.
However, Maties found their groove by holding onto their ball well and transitioning much quicker from interceptions to extend their lead to 28-14 at half time.
Maties coach Zanele Mdodana was making far more frequent use of her bench and the versatility of her players and it left UJ chasing shadows at times.
The third quarter highlighted Maties ability to put together a string of goals. Sian Moore, who replaced starting goal-shooter Claudia Jarrard, was proving lethal under the net with captain Nicholé Taljaard chipping in at times too.
UJ, too were making use of their opportunities through Kruger and the livewire Alicia Oosthuizen but it was their defensive teammates, Rykie Venter and Beverley Moyake – cvaptain and vice-captain – who found themselves at the heart of the action more often.
In the end the third quarter hooter went and Maties lead 42-22 with only one box to still tick in the final 15 minutes.
In the end they secured their full haul of points when they crossed the 50-goal mark during their Powerplay. Ironically, UJ matched them by scoring two double-pointers themselves – but the score now read 51-28 in Maties’ favour.
Full-time and Maties outlast UJ to win 65-32.
UJ were delivering arguably their best performance of this year’s tournament, but is was not good enough to get something out of the top-three contender.
This was further illustrated during the final two minutes of the match, their Powerplay, when Sian Moore scored three unanswered double-pointers to take the final score to 65-32.
Final score
MATIES 65
UJ 32
Awards
FNB Player of the Match: Beverley Moyake (UJ)
Wimpy Moment Maker: Nicola Smith (Maties)
MTN Interceptor of the Match: Rykie Venter (UJ)
Teams
Maties: 7 Bronwyn de Lange, 3 Claudia Jarrard, 16 Alisomn Malgas, 11 Khomotso Mamburu, 4 Chrisley Marshall, 1 Sian Moore, 10 Sasha-Lee Petersen, 8 Jo Prins, 13 Nicola Smith, 9 Caleigh Stuart, 2 Nicholé Taljaard (captain), 6 Adri Uys, 5 Carla Werth.
Coach: Zanele Mdodana
UJ: 1 Liza Kruger, 4 Chanelle Machimana, 16 Nthabiseng Masehle, 8 Nompumelelo Mbonambi, 13 Beverley Moyake (vice-captain), 14 Alicia Oosthuizen, 7 Kaylin Pienaar, 10 Nobuhle Sibisi, 15 Kendra Szeles, 9 Twanette Thoms, 2 Marileé van der Walt, 5 Rykie Venter (captain).
Coach: Bongiwe Msomi
