It all comes to this – the grand finale. Will Tuks continue their recent dominance over the Kovsies or will the home support pull the home team through in Bloemfontein? The last match of Varsity Netball 2018 gets underway at 18:45 and is broadcast live on SuperSport 10.
Head-to-head
Total played: 7 games
Kovsies won: 4
Tuks won: 3
Drawn: 0
Average score: Kovsies 51-49 Tuks
- When the Kovies defeated Tuks on 26 August in Bloemfontein, it was the very first time in the competition (in the seven meetings between the teams) that the home team ended on the winning side!
- It will be the fourth time this year the two teams lock horns. All the previous three encounters were also in Bloemfontein. At the University Sport South Africa tournament Tuks prevailed by 54-44 and then 48-30 in the final. In the group match in the Varsity Netball competition Kovsies won by 68-43 against an understrength Tuks side.
Previous results, venues and FNB Player of the Matches:
2013: Kovsies 53-46 Tuks @ Pretoria – Ané Bester (Kovsies)
2014: Tuks 54-48 Kovsies @ Bloemfontein – Tanya Mostert (Kovsies)
2014: Kovsies 49-42 Tuks @ Pretoria – Lauren-Lee Christians (Kovsies) – final
2015: Kovsies 55-41 Tuks @ Pretoria – Danelle Willemse (Kovsies)
2016: Tuks 62-41 Kovsies @ Bloemfontein – Tshina Mdau (Tuks)
2017: Tuks 53-43 Kovsies @ Bloemfontein – Shadine van der Merwe (Tuks)
2018: Kovsies 68-43 Tuks @ Bloemfontein – Khomotso Mamburu (Kovsies)
- It will be the fourth appearance by Tuks in the final. They lost in 2014 (to Kovsies) and in 2016 (to NWU) and eventually won last the title year against NWU.
- It will be the first time that Tuks have travel for a Varsity Netball final.
- The Kovsies have not reach the final since winning the trophy in 2013 and 2014.
- It will be the first Varsity Netball final in Bloemfontein.
- Tuks have two members of the 2014 final team still playing for them – Ine-Marí Venter and Tshina Mdau.
- Alicia Puren, Tanya Mostert, Maryke Coetzee and Rieze Straeuli are the remaining Kovsie players from the 2014 final.
- Both teams have a nominee for the Player of the Tournament. They are Khanyisa Chawane (Kovsies) and Marlize de Bruin (Tuks). Interestingly they both play centre. All five the previous Player of the Tournament awards went to either a Kovsie or Tukkie player. They were Ané Botha (2013), Karla Pretorius (2014 and 2015) and Khomotso Mamburu (2017) of the Kovsies and Shadine van der Merwe (2016) of Tuks.
- The assistant coaches Erin Burger (Tuks) and Karin Venter (Kovsies) are former Protea teammates. In fact, Venter captained the Proteas in Burger’s test debut against England in 2007.
- If Tuks win, it will be the first time that the same province, district and university win all four senior competitions in South African netball in the same year. The four is the Premier League, National Championship, Varsity Netball and University Sport South Africa (USSA) Championship.
The teams for the fixture:
Kovsies: Alicia Puren (GS, captain), Tanya Mostert (GD/WD), Khomotso Mamburu (GD/WD), Lefébre Rademan (GA/WA), Sikholiwe Mdletshe (WD/C), Ané Retief (GK), Bianca de Wee (WA/WD), Maryke Coetzee (GK/GD), Rieze Straeuli (GA/WA), Gertriana Retief (GS), Khanyisa Chawane (C / WA), Jana Scholtz (WD/GD). Coach: Burta de Kock. Assistant coach: Karin Venter.
Tuks: Venetia Grobler (GS), Anique Grobler (WA), Jeanette Vermeulen (GA), Lebogang Kekana (GD), Juzelri Garbers (GK), Ine-Marí Venter (GS), Chantelle Swart (GA), Tshina Mdau (WD, captain), Akosua Mensah (GD), Marlize de Bruin (WA), Lungile Mthembu (WD), Jeanté Strydom (GD). Coach: Jenny van Dyk. Assistant coach: Erin Burger.
