Details of the all the matches played on Sunday, September 8 and Monday September 9.

Round 4

NWU 62 – 61 UP Tuks

Whoever wrote the script for the titanic battle between defending champions UP Tuks and NWU deserves an Academy Award with the Eagles walking away with top honours this time. Going down to the very last play, the pace at which the match was played never dropped off for a second, and if anyone ever thought powerplays do not add to the sport of netball, they should think otherwise.  NWU used both – particularly the last quarter surge – to put Tuks under serious scoreboard pressure. Full credit must also go to NWU’s defence, with goal defence Sanmarie Visser and goalkeeper Martiné Jordaan standing out in getting their team over the line by the barest of margins.

Quarter Scores: 13-15 | 30-27 | 45-47 | 62-61
FNB Player of the match: Sunel Smit (NWU)

NWU: Casey Davids, Jade Egwatu, Nadine Hefer, Martiné Jordaan, Kegaugetswe Mashilo, Amori Matthee, Tlotlang Mokomela, Nicola Oosthuizen, Sunel Smit, Jaylin van Zyl, Sanmarie Visser.
UP Tuks: Alice Kennon, Caroline Paul, Jamie Williamson, Kamogelo Maseko, Kylie van Wyk, Luca Keun, Marichelle Visagie, Melissa van Zyl, Nonkcubeko Mjaliswa, Phophi Nematangari, Tinita van Dyk, Kyla Dames.

UJ 59 – 42 Wits

The two giants of Johannesburg student netball faced off in a seesaw battle with last year’s runners-up. For the first three quarters of the match the result could have gone either way and it was only in the last 15 minutes the Orange Army pulled away from their opponents. Gaps opened up as they pushed forward, allowing UJ easy goals when they took the ball off the ladies in blue. Ultimately it was this that gave them the comfortable win.

Quarter Scores: 12-11 | 28-23 | 40-34 | 59-42
FNB Player of the match: Tarle Mathe (UJ)

UJ: Alexandra Meimaris, Aphiwe Thusini, Boitumelo Mehloko, Cornelia Mupenda, Gugulethu Mdladla, Henlize Basson, Jade Niemand, Kamogelo Motsepe, Muhluri Hlatshwayo, Sanelisiwe Ntobela, Tarle Mathe.
Wits: Alix Horn, Amy Horn, Elmarie Vusieka, Giada Prinsloo, Kagisho Itholeng, Liani Gilmour, Oratile Mokone, Panashe Chiranga, Philasandre Ntuli, Shani Mokken, Thandiwe Mokiti, Zanele Soviya.

UFS Kovsies 56 – 45 Maties

Structured, physical netball was the name of the game in the clash between UFS Kovsies and Maties with Kovsies ultimately prevailing.
The Free Staters have a lot of cool heads in their ranks, and this was a major factor in what in the end turned out to be a comfortable victory.  At certain points Maties certainly appeared to be in the game, but one felt they did not go for the jugular when opportunities arose. After seven goals separated the teams at halftime, Kovsies stayed in front in the last two quarters to seal a 56-45 victory.

Quarter Scores: 13-7 | 26-19 | 43-30 | 56-45
FNB Player of the match: Reratilwe Ke-Morena Letsoalo (UFS Kovsies)

UFS Kovsies: Liamé De Lange, Demi-Leigh de Jager, Megan Erasmus, Xandri Fourie, Elri Groenewald, Reratilwe Ke-Morena Letsoalo, Thandolwethu Mokoena, Refiloe Nketsa, Asanele Malgas, Rolene Streutker, Charné van Vuuren, Karla Victor.
Maties: Adriana Carstens, Bianca Odendaal, Chrisley Marshall, Danielle van Nieuwenhuizen, Lize Rossouw, Marné Abrahamse, Michelle van der Merwe, Miriam Ndjadi, Renezia Andrews, Shanidine Bezuidenhout, Syntiche Kabuya, Thabisa Yekani.

Madibaz 75 – 21 TUT
Madibaz hosted the second bumper weekend and ended it on a high with a comprehensive drubbing of TUT. With their fans baying for a big result on home soil, they came out like a house on fire, racking up early points to stamp their authority on the game within the first few minutes. The team will take great confidence from putting more than 70 points on the board and may just surprise a few of the more-fancied teams in the rounds to come. With another 10-point deduction, TUT now find themselves well and truly at the bottom of the log.

Quarter Scores: 18-7 | 38-15 | 52-28 | 71-25 (10 goals deducted from TUT for failing to include a minimum of two players from designated transformation group).
FNB Player of the match: Kaylin Coetzer (Madibaz)

Madibaz: Angel Mlambo, Anke Britz, Edon Snyman, Erin Hartland, Hanniska van Vuuren, Inganathi Sapepa, Kaylin Coetzer, Kelly du Toit, Mothira Mohammad, Siyamthanda Dingiswayo, Tashlyn van Schoor, Jeannique Rossouw.
TUT: Desiree Mohlala, Fulufhelo Remember Nenzhelele, Gomolemo Mashiane, Katleho Motaung, Modjadji Mokgehle, Naledi Makoa, Philile Bokwe, Thembalethu Buthelezi, Keamogetswe Ngobeni, Oageng Motileng, Yolanda Makhubela, Nosibusiso Khwela.

Round 3

UJ 51 – 46 UFS Kovsies

Exhilarating hardly begins to describe the matchup between UJ and UFS Kovsies with the Orange Army eventually coming out on top. At no point was the result certain, and with both powerplays taken in the final quarter it was high-octane netball every step of the way. Both defensive units were sublime on the day. Wave after wave of attack were thwarted at either end of the court, resulting in momentum shifts almost every play. It was a  show that will be remembered by everyone at the Madibaz Sports Centre with the Orange Army walking winning the close encounter 51-46. Kovsies earned a bonus point for losing by less than seven goals.

Quarter Scores: 14-9 | 25-18 | 38-28 | 51-46
FNB Player of the match: Sanelisiwe Ntobelo (UJ)

UJ: Alexandra Meimaris, Aphiwe Thusini, Boitumelo Mehloko, Cornelia Mupenda, Gugulethu Mdladla, Henlize Basson, Jade Niemand, Kamogelo Motsepe, Muhluri Hlatshwayo, Sanelisiwe Ntobela, Tarle Mathe.
UFS Kovsies: Liamé De Lange, Demi-Leigh de Jager, Megan Erasmus, Xandri Fourie, Elri Groenewald, Reratilwe Ke-Morena Letsoalo, Thandolwethu Mokoena, Refiloe Nketsa, Asanele Malgas, Rolene Streutker, Charné van Vuuren, Karla Victor.

UP Tuks 81 – 47 Madibaz

With their vocal home crowd firmly behind them, Madibaz put in a spirited performance against UP Tuks but in the end the defending  champions proved more than a handful. The Pretoria ladies have become known as a powerhouse side for good reason though, and their strength and speed were increasingly apparent as the game went on. Madibaz were by no means disgraced however as the team’s defense put in a great shift against their bigger opponents. Tuks were never going to give up their healthy lead and their pace proved a huge factor in the match.

Quarter Scores: 17-9 | 40-21 | 65-35 | 81-47
FNB Player of the match: Tinita van Wyk

UP Tuks: Alice Kennon, Caroline Paul, Jamie Williamson, Kamogelo Maseko, Kylie van Wyk, Luca Keun, Marichelle Visagie, Melissa van Zyl, Nonkcubeko Mjaliswa, Phophi Nematangari, Tinita van Dyk, Kyla Dames.
Madibaz: Angel Mlambo, Anke Britz, Edon Snyman, Erin Hartland, Hanniska van Vuuren, Inganathi Sapepa, Kaylin Coetzer, Kelly du Toit, Mothira Mohammad, Siyamthanda Dingiswayo, Tashlyn van Schoor, Jeannique Rossouw.

Maties 68 – 42 Wits

Maties against Wits was always going to be a physical affair, especially after the Johannesburg students gave UP Tuks a run for their money last week. In this instance, the Maroon Machine prevailed. It was a thorough performance by the ladies from the Cape and, while Wits delivered some memorable moments on attack, after halftime there really was only one team in it. Wits will take a lot of heart from the fact that they never allowed Maties to get too far ahead despite the 2022 champions claiming a 68-42 victory.

Quarter Scores: 19-13 | 34-24 | 50-32 | 68-42
FNB Player of the match: Shanidine Bezuidenhout (Maties)

Maties: Adriana Carstens, Bianca Odendaal, Chrisley Marshall, Danielle van Nieuwenhuizen, Lize Rossouw, Marné Abrahamse, Michelle van der Merwe, Miriam Ndjadi, Renezia Andrews, Shanidine Bezuidenhout, Syntiche Kabuya, Thabisa Yekani.
Wits: Alix Horn, Amy Horn, Elmarie Vusieka, Giada Prinsloo, Kagisho Itholeng, Liani Gilmour, Oratile Mokone, Panashe Chiranga, Philasandre Ntuli, Shani Mokken, Thandiwe Mokiti, Zanele Soviya.

NWU 75 – 17 TUT

In the last match of the day, NWU imposed their physicality on TUT to hand their third opponents their third heavy defeat of this year’s tournament. The team from Potchefstroom have always been magnificent to watch when their passing game is at its best and certainly the Gqeberha crowd were treated to a masterclass in the second stanza. For TUT, their disappointing season was compounded by the fact that despite putting up the most points they have against any side this year they were deducted 10 goals yet again for another transformation transgression. NWU scored 27 goals in the last 15 minutes of the game, the most of any quarter, to seal a 75-17 victory.

Quarter Scores: 10-7 | 28-13 | 48-22 | 75-17 (10 goals deducted from TUT for failing to
include a minimum of two players from designated transformation group)
FNB Player of the match: Nicola Oosthuizen (NWU)

NWU: Casey Davids, Jade Egwatu, Nadine Hefer, Martiné Jordaan, Kegaugetswe Mashilo, Amori Matthee, Tlotlang Mokomela, Nicola Oosthuizen, Sunel Smit, Jaylin van Zyl, Sanmarie Visser.
TUT: Desiree Mohlala, Fulufhelo Remember Nenzhelele, Gomolemo Mashiane, Katleho Motaung, Modjadji Mokgehle, Naledi Makoa, Philile Bokwe, Thembalethu Buthelezi, Keamogetswe Ngobeni, Oageng Motileng, Yolanda Makhubela, Nosibusiso Khwela.

Courtesy Varsity Sports

Round 5 kicks off on September 16. See the log and all fixtures here.

For tickets go here