After an unexpected defeat in their first match of the Varsity Netball challenge Kovsies bounced back in style on Sunday, when they won their all-important clash with Tuks by 53-46 at the Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria.
Kovsies (University of the Free State) and Tuks (University of Pretoria) not only contested the USSA final earlier this year, but many of their players were also in action in the final of the national netball championships between Mangaung and Gauteng North in August. Not for nothing are they regarded as favourites for the title, making their match one of the most crucial of the competition.
The Pretoria side were playing in front of their home crowd and went into the match as favourites after they demolished TUT on Saturday, while Kovsies lost to NWU-Pukke. But the Bloemfontein girls showed their determination to change their fortunes from the outset. They were especially impressive on defense, but at the same time did enough with their own possession to take a half-time lead of 26-22.
It remained close in the second half, but Kovsies had just enough in the tank to keep Tuks from the door.
Kovsies will now enter their next match, against TUT on Monday, with heaps of self-confidence, while Tuks will have to do some introspection before they take on NWU-Pukke.
Potchefstroom’s Pukke are still sitting pretty on the log with two wins from two. On Sunday they recorded an emphatic victory of 88-16 over TUT.
Pukke dominated from the outset, racing to a halftime-lead of 40-12 and taking the second half spoils by 48-4.
In Port Elizabeth NMMU also stayed on the winning path with a 51-30 victory over Maties.
The PE side won a close encounter against UJ on Saturday, and once again had to work hard to subdue their Stellenbosch opponents. NMMU held a slender 18-17 lead at halftime, but then dug deep in the second half to take the spoils.
UJ finally had something to smile about as they beat UCT by 63-24. The girls from Johannesburg were never in trouble, easily answering all the Cape team’s questions with an impressive display of power and precision.
NMMU have an excellent chance of taking a clean sweep in front of their home crowd on Monday, when they take on UCT, while UJ and Maties will face off in the other match at the NMMU Indoor Sport Centre.
In Pretoria at Tuks Rembrandt Hall: Monday: 15:00: TUT vs Kovsies; 16:30:Tuks vs Pukke – both live on SS229
At NMMU: Monday: 18:00: UJ vs Maties; 19:30: NMMU vs UCT – both live on SS229
