NWU made short work of TUT, 77-13, during the opener of the Varsity Netball Bumper Weekend at Rembrandt Hall in Pretoria.
The foundation of NWU’s comprehensive win was laid from the first centre-pass. Having made the early running, the the ladies in purple and torqoise soon raced into a 10-2 lead.
TUT were struggling to deal with the pace of the match and their coach Dumisani Chauke would have been pleased to be able to regroup with her team only 13-3 down at the end of what was – in truth – a scrappy opening quarter.
NWU’s ability to dominate possession while limiting TUT’s options when on defense continued into the second quarter. Bianca van Lelyveld replaced Alicia van Staden at goal shooter and continued to rack up the goals, in partnership with the ever-present goal attack Jessica du Plessis.
As it happened, NWU took a 28-6 lead into half-time, but with TUT coughing up more and more turnovers the signs looked ominous.
Unsurprisingly, the goals flowed freely for NWU in the third quarter. They called their Powerplay with eight minutes left of it and they scored three doule-pointers to take the score to 42-6.
Worse for TUT, was that during the two minutes Lerato Sedumedi went down hard and exited the match with a left elbow injury.
By the end of quarter three NWU were one goal short of the bonus point as they lead 49-8 – van Lelyveld and goal attack Jessica du Plessis having run rampant in those 15 minutes.
Eerly in the fourth quarter NWU scored their 50th goal, to secure their bonus point, and as soon as they did TUT chose to take their Powerplay.
The decision backfired on TUT, as NWU scored six unanswered goals to move the score rapidly to 62-9 with ten minutes left of match.
TUT’s defenders continued to have no answers for NWU’s much faster transition play and by the time the referees called time on the clash, NWU had claimed a well-deserved 77-13 win.
Final score
NWU 77
TUT 13
Awards
FNB Player of the Match: Londeka Buthelezi (NWU)
Wimpy Moment Maker: Monique Reyneke (NWU)
MTN Interceptor of the Match: Theoner Mthombeni (TUT)
Teams
NWU: 13 Londeka Buthelezi, 3 Jessica du Plessis, 14 Kailah Ferreira, 17 Anelda Jacobs, 2 Didintle Keebine, 12 Leonie Maree, 1 Monique Reyneke (captain), 11 Caitlinn Rousseau, 10 Lucy Strydom, 4 Adivhaho Tshivhiahuvhi, 6 Bianca van Lelyveld, 5 Alicia van Staden.
Coach: Elsunet du Plessis
TUT: 16 Yolanda Charles, 13 Mpho Gololo, 9 Dinah Khetsi, 11 Mpho Mabitsela, 1 Happy Makofane (captain), 10 Nkoloki Malebana, 2 Lentsamang Motau (vice-captain), 7 Theoner Mthombeni, 8 Matamela Murivhami, 6 Nozipho Nkosi, 12 Lerato Sedumedi, 4 Cindy Selwana.
Coach: Dumisani Chauke
