With the semi-finals a week away, Tuks had no intention of taking it easy on their neighbours TUT as the Varsity Netball table-toppers romped to a 77-10 victory at Rembrandt Hall.
Tuks’s victory was a perfect dress rehearsal for what they know will be a far tougher assignment next Monday on their home court.
Jenny can Dyk’s charges showed their intentions from the first centre-pass through an opening quarter that saw them race into a healthy lead. Despite TUT’s best efforts, the score read 18-2 after 15 minutes.
It got worse for seventh-placed TUT, who failed to score a goal in the second quarter. Tuks, meanwhile, dropped 17 past Cindy Selwana and Theoner Mthombeni – who has been TUT’s star performer during their Varsity Netball return.
The half-time score read 35-2.
Not long after returning to the court for the third quarter, TUT coach Dumisani Chauke opted to call for their Powerplay. During the two minutes which followed, Tuks were the only team to score but only claimed two double-pointers to take the score to 40-2.
As it happened, the floodgates opened thereafter. TUT captain Happy Makofane dropped a few goals to edge her team’s tally up to five goals by the end of the quarter.
Tuks, however, surpassed the 50-goal – and bonus point – mark to hold a 52-5 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.
That final quarter was highlighted by Tuks using their Powerplay, during which they scored four double-point goals to TUT’s one, to move the score from 67-7 to 75-9.
With not much left of the derby in Pretoria, three further goals were scored to leave the final score at 77-10 which meant that the home team went 7 from 7 in this year’s round-robin phase to mark themselves out as firm favourites for the 2019 Varsity Netball title,
Final score
TUKS 77
TUT 10
Awards
FNB Player of the Match: Tshina Mdau (Tuks)
Wimpy Moment Maker: Marlize de Bruin (Tuks)
MTN Interceptor of the Match: Jasmine Ziegelmeier (Tuks)
Teams:
Tuks: 5 Marlize de Bruin (vice-captain), 16 Anique Grobler, 13 Venetia Grobler, 8 Akosua Mensah, 7 Lungile Mthembu, 12 Tracey Mthunzi, 2 Tshina Mdau (captain), 1 Mbali Ntuli, 4 Chantelle Swart, 3 Jamie van Wyk, 6 Danielle van Zyl, 11 Jasmine Ziegelmeier.
Coach: Jenny van Dyk
TUT: 16 Yolanda Charles, 13 Mpho Gololo, 15 Ofentse Kgashane, 11 Mpho Mabitsela, 1 Happy Makofane (captain), 3 Rosina Malatji, 10 Nkoloki Malebana, 14 Pontsho Mogale, 7 Theoner Mthombeni, 8 Matamela Murivhami, 6 Nozipho Nkosi, 4 Cindy Selwana.
Coach: Dumisani Chauke
