Maties reg vir Pukke, Kovsies : 2015-09-29
Na ‘n oortuigende sege oor VUT in die Varsity Sport-netbalreeks wag twee van die belangrikste wedstryde in die reeks op die span van Maties.
Maties het Maandagaand in die Coetzenburg-sentrum maklik met VUT klaargespeel en die besoekers met 83-19 geklop. Woensdag pak Maties vir Pukke en die laaste wedstryd voor die halfeindronde is Maandag teen Kovsies in Stellenbosch. Die wedstryd teen Pukke is in Port Elizabeth nadat die vorige wedstryd tussen die twee spanne in die laaste kwart onverwags weens beurtkrag in Potchefstroom tot ‘n einde gebring is. Na verskeie opsies oorweeg is, is daar besluit om die wedstryd oor te speel.
Volgens Maties se afrigter, Christine Behan is sy tevrede met haar span se vertoning, maar dat daar nog deeglik geskaaf moet word vir die laaste twee kragmetings. Die uitslae van die wedstryde teen Pukke en Kovsies sal bepaal of Maties ‘n tuishalfeindstryd kan kry. Daar is selfs ‘n moontlikheid dat Maties nog eerste op die punteleer kan eindig. “Ja, daar is ‘n kans, maar ons dink nie daaraan nie. Ons wil baie graag ‘n tuishalfeindstryd speel en daarvoor moet ons die wedstryde wen. Die wedstryd teen Pukke is amper soos ‘n mini-eindstryd vir ons,” vertel Behan.
“Dit is soms moeiliker om teen die sogenaamde swakker spanne te speel, want spel is geneig om los te raak en dan vat die spelers onnodige kanse en hou nie altyd by die plan nie. Ons is egter vol vertroue dat ons Pukke en Kovsies kan klop. Ons werk hard en die bestuur kyk baie goed na die spelers. Moontlik is dit beslis.”
In die begin van die reeks het Behan se span nogal gesukkel met die sogenaamde kragspel (power play). Dit is twee minute waarin elke doel twee punte tel. “Ja, dit was ‘n bekommernis, maar ons is nou beter daarmee en ek is tevrede moet hoe ons dit benader. Dit is nie meer vir my ‘n probleem area van ons spel nie.”
Maties is tans derde op die punteleer agter Kovsies en Tukkies, maar het een wedstryd minder gespeel. Die wedstryd teen Pukke is Woensdag om 19:00. Maandag se kragmeting met Kovsies is om 19:00 in die Coetzenburg-sentrum.
ENGLISH
Maties ready for Pukke, Kovsies
After a convincing victory over VUT in the Varsity Sports netball series on Monday two of the most important games in the series awaits the team of Maties.
Maties won the match easily against VUT in the Coetzenburg-centre. The score was 83-19. Wednesday Maties take on Pukke and the last game before the semi-finals is on Monday against Kovsies in Stellenbosch. The match against Pukke will be played in Port Elizabeth after the previous game between the two teams was unexpectedly brought to an end due to load shedding in Potchefstroom. After several options were considered, it was decided to replay the game.
According Maties coach Christine Behan she is satisfied with her team’s performance, but that there is still some work to do before the last two matches. The results of the matches against Pukle and Kovsies will determine whether Maties get a home semi-final. There is even a possibility that Maties can still finish top of the log. “Yes, there is a chance but we do not think about it. We would like a home semi-final and we have to win the games for that. The match against Pukke is almost like a mini-final for us,” says Behan.
“It is sometimes difficult to play against the so called weaker teams because the game tends to become loose and then the players take unnecessary chances and do not always stick to the game plan. However, we are confident that we can beat Pukke and Kovsies. We work hard and the management looks carefully after the players. It is definitely possible.”
In the beginning of the series Behan’s team struggled with the so-called power play. It is two minutes in which each goal counts two. “Yes, it was a concern, but we’re better at it and I’m happy now with how we approach it. It is no longer a problem area of our game. ”
Maties is currently third in the standings behind Kovsies and Pretoria, but with a game in hand. The match against Pukke is on Wednesday at 19:00. Monday’s clash with Kovsies is at 19:00 in the Coetzenburg centre.
