Maties must travel to play Tuks : 2015-10-06
Maties will take on Tuks in the first semi-final of the Varsity Netball series on Monday in Pretoria.
The other semi-final is between undefeated and defending champions Kovsies and Pukke in Bloemfontein.
Maties finished third on the log after losing the final match of the group phase against Kovsies this past Monday in the Coetzenburg centre. Maties fought bravely against their superior opponents but lost 33-41. Finishing third on the log is Maties’ best performance in the series since the start three years ago.
The score is not really a true reflection of how tight this match was. The final two minutes of the match was a power play and before that the score was 33-37. At halftime the gap was already nine goals and against a quality team like Kovsies, that is a big gap.
Maties co-captain Juline Rossouw admitted that they made life difficult for themselves. “We gave ourselves so much to do with a halftime gap like that, but I must give credit to my players who never gave up. We fought hard until the final whistle and I am proud of my teammates,” said Rossouw.
The simple verdict on the match is that Kovsies were more calm and calculated, while Maties played with lots of emotion. While Kovsies were consistent, Maties had periods of brilliance, but struggled in the goal circle at critical times.
It’s never easy singling out a player in a match like this, but Jo Prins deserves special mention. She left if all out on the court and was Maties’ best player.
Monday’s match is at 17:00.
AFRIKAANS
Maties moet reis om Tuks pak
Maties speel Maandag in Pretoria teen Tuks in die eerste halfeindstryd van die Varsity Netbal-reeks.
Die ander halfeindstryd is tussen die onoorwonne en die verdedigende kampioene, Kovsies en die Pukke in Bloemfontein.
Maties het derde op die punteleer geëindig nadat hulle die laaste wedstryd van die groepfase teen Kovsies die afgelope Maandag in die Coetzenburg sentrum verloor het. Maties was dapper teen hul beter teenstanders, maar het met 33-41 verloor. ‘n Derde plek op die punteleer is Maties se beste vertoning sedert die reeks drie jaar gelede begin het.
Die telling is nie ‘n ware weerspieëling van hoe taai die wedstryd was nie. Die laaste twee minute van die wedstryd was ‘n kragspel (waar elke doel twee punte tel) en voor dit was die telling 33-37. Teen halftyd was die gaping reeds nege doele en teen ‘n span van Kovsies se gehalte, is dit ‘n reuse-gaping.
Maties se mede-kaptein, Juline Rossouw het erken dat hulle die lewe moeilik vir hulself gemaak het. “Ek moet egter krediet gee aan my spelers wat nooit moed opgegee het nie. Ons het hard geveg tot die eindfluitjie en ek is trots op my spanmaats,” het Rossouw gesê.
Die eenvoudige uitspraak oor die wedstryd is dat Kovsies meer kalm en bereken was, terwyl Maties met baie emosie gespeel het. Kovsies was konsekwent en Maties het oomblikke van briljantheid gehad, maar het op kritieke tye in die doelsirkel gesukkel.
Dit is nooit maklik om ‘n enkele speler uit te sonder in ‘n wedstryd soos die nie, maar Jo Prins verdien spesiale vermelding. Sy het haar alles gegee en was Maties se beste speler.
Maandag se wedstryd is om 17:00.
