Maties reach first ever Varsity Netball final : 2015-10-13
Photo by: Catherine Kotze/SASPA
For the first time ever the Maties netball team will play in the final of the Varsity Sports Netball series.
Maties will take on Pukke in the final on Monday in Stellenbosch. Maties beat Tuks 55-50 in Pretoria; while Pukke got the better of two-times defending champions Kovies in Bloemfontein with 56-48.
On paper Tuks and Kovsies should have won, but both Maties and Pukke showed no regard for the more fancied opponents. Not only is this the first time Maties will play in the final, but it was also their first victory ever over Tuks in this tournament.
Co-captain and key player Juline Rossouw was player of the match. She has been leading by example the whole series and her skills on the defence have played a big role in the success of Maties.
Pukke handed Kovsies their only defeat of the season. It will be the first time Kovsies wont play in the final. This is the second time Pukke will play in the final after they were undefeated in 2013 only to lose to Kovsies in the final.
Maties have been playing better every year since the tournament started in 2013. The first time they finished fifth, last year they played in the semi-final after finishing fourth and this year they finished third on the log, but with a place in the final they can finish no worse than second.
Before the start of the series, the experienced Melandi Pretorius made it clear that a home final is the ultimate goal in the tournament for any team. “We are so ready to perform to our full potential. We are physical and mentally strong and have a great team spirit. We want to surprise a few teams and persons and in the process hopefully achieve more than what was expected from us.”
The previous time Maties and Pukke played against each other this series, Maties won a tight battle 46-39.
The final is Monday at 19:00 in the Coetzenburg centre.
Photo by: Catherine Kotze/SASPA
AFRIKAANS
Maties speel in eerste Varsity Netbal-eindstryd
Vir die eerste keer ooit sal die Maties-netbalspan in die eindstryd van die Varsity Sports Netbal-reeks speel.
Maties pak Pukke Maandag in die eindstryd in Stellenbosch. Maties het Tuks met 55-50 in Pretoria geklop; terwyl Pukke die tweemalige kampioene Kovies in Bloemfontein met 56-48 uitgeskakel het.
Op papier moes Tuks en Kovsies wen, maar beide Maties en Pukke het geen genade vir hul veel besproke teenstanders gehad nie. Nie net is dit die eerste keer wat Maties in die eindstryd speel nie, maar dit was ook hul eerste oorwinning oor Tuks sedert die begin van die reeks.
Mede-kaptein en sleutelspeler Juline Rossouw was die speler van die wedstryd. Sy lei met voorbeeld en haar vaardighede op die verdediging speel ‘n groot rol in Maties se sukses.
Pukke het Kovsies hul enigste nederlaag van die seisoen toegedien. Dit sal die eerste keer wees wat Kovsies nie in die eindstryd speel nie. Dit is die tweede keer wat Pukke in die eindstryd speel nadat hulle in 2013 onoorwonne was net om in die eindstryd teen Kovsies te verloor.
Maties speel elke jaar beter sedert die toernooi in 2013 begin het. Die eerste keer het hulle vyfde geëindig, verlede jaar het hulle in die halfeindronde gespeel nadat hulle vierde op die punteleer was en vanjaar was hulle in die derde plek op die punteleer, maar met ‘n plek in die eindstryd kan hulle nie slegter as tweede eindig nie.
Voor die aanvang van die reeks, het die ervare Melandi Pretorius dit duidelik gemaak dat ‘n tuis-eindstryd vir enige span die uiteindelike doel in die toernooi is. “Ons is gereed om ons volle potensiaal te wys. Ons is fisiek en geestelik sterk en het ‘n goeie spangees. Ons wil ‘n paar spanne en persone verras en in die proses hopelik meer bereik was wat van ons verwag was. ”
Die vorige keer wat Maties en Pukke teen mekaar gespeel het in die reeks, het Maties ‘n taai wedstryd met 46-39 gewen.
Maandag se eindstryd is om 19:00 in die Coetzenburg-sentrum.
Photo by: Catherine Kotze/SASPA