The NWU-Pukke outgunned the Maties to book their place in the 2016 Varsity Netball final, as they beat the hosts 60-51 in their match at the Coetzenburg Indoor Centre.
It was the Maties who scored first, but Pukke soon led 6-4. They increased that to 10-5 and a pattern began to emerge. The spirited Maties, who were fired up by the energetic crowd, would create an opportunity to score, but then the Pukke would take the ball through some heroic defence. The ladies from Potchefstroom would then march back down the court and have no problem sinking the goals.
There was some brief drama as a technical difficulty saw the Pukke call a power play but it was not executed by the officials. At that stage the Pukke were leading 15-7 and it didn’t affect them as they finished the quarter with an 18-8 lead. The Maties fought back but Pukke called the power play in the second quarter and suddenly raced to a 31-20 lead, before the Maties could narrow the gap.
Both teams added a few more goals but it was Pukke in the ascendancy, as they went into halftime at 35-26. Some stern words from the coaching staff saw Maties spark into action and from 41-33 they used their power play to make it 42-40. The crowd was in a frenzy, but vitally the Pukke ended the quarter 46-40 ahead, as their goal scorers kept the scoreboard ticking over.
It was more of the same –for every goal the Maties scored the Pukke would reply with one of their own. Despite having significant possession, the Maties were let down by their accuracy, as Pukke didn’t miss the opportunities on offer. It went from 48-44 to 57-48 in what seemed like a heartbeat, and Pukke didn’t take their foot off the gas, winning 61-50 in a high-scoring encounter.
If they manage to dictate the pace of the game as they did against Maties, Pukke can beat any team, and they will be hoping to keep the Varsity Netball crown in Potchefstroom.
FNB Player of the Match: Zandré Kruger (NWU-Pukke)
Teams:
Maties: Juline Rossouw (Captain); Jo Prins (Vice-captain); Charmaine Baard; Cari Swart; Somari Els; Sasha-Lee Petersen; Nelandré Mostert; Saskia Stander; Stephanie Brandt; Annerine Snyman; Abeline Olivier; Carla Werth; Megan Gossman; Leanne Nigrini; Allison Malgas.
NWU-Pukke: Sigrid (Sigi) Burger, Renske Stoltz, Marna Claassens, Kifiloe Tsotetsi (Fifi), Jomari Myburgh, Mandolien (Mandy) Hermanus, Romé Dreyer, Monique Reyneke, Chanté Bester (Captain), Jeanté Strydom, Simone Rabie, Zandré Kruger.
By Dorfling Terblanche
